Congrats. You've made it past the first hump of college! You survived the long and difficult hike of freshman year, and just when you thought you would come on campus more confident, sophomore year hit you with some surprise road bumps. Good news though, this is your year. Junior is going to be the one you truly feel you can get a grasp on. You know campus and town like the back of your hand. You know the best places to be productive and the right times to go to beat the swarm of students doing work. This is your year and you are ready to be seen as part of the "older crowd."

If you're like me and have a late-summer birthday, you don't get to join your friends that can "frolick" at the bars. That doesn't mean you can't still have fun though. You're still welcome at restaurants and get to spend your money on food instead of drinks! Hello! Varsity Truck visit! So much more appealing anyway.

Being an upperclassman comes with many other perks besides being legal to drink and being done with your first two years of classes. It also comes with people who look up to you, job and internship searching, and taking on more responsibilities and as you inch closer and closer to living in the real world. Your networking web is (hopefully) becoming bigger and your resume is always in mind.

As these thoughts continue to build and probably overwhelm, keep in mind that non-school related activities are what make upperclassman special. You're getting close to the last chance of studying abroad, bridal showers and social events are important to attend, and happy hours are indeed a good thing. In fact, some of the best relationships stem from a first impression at a happy hour.

Another point to keep in mind is the idea of being an underclassman's role model. As you have experience in the classes they're taking and you've worked with professors on a level that some incoming students may not be comfortable with, you are their guide, especially when they can't find a building on campus.

So, welcome. You are possibly halfway through your last years of schooling. You are killing it at college life. I know you can make it through the hard times and get that degree you are striving for!