I have come to the realization that I am a SWUG. What is a SWUG you ask? A "senior washed up girl." And I don’t mean this in a bad way. I mean it in a I-Would-Rather-Drink-Wine-In-My-Sweatshirt-Than-Go-To-A-Bar-Where-Everyone-Is-Younger-Than-Me type of way. This term was first brought to my attention by my older brother — a retired frat star who came to visit while escaping the hell that is law school. He was irritated that my friends and I weren’t planning on rallying after a long day of festivities. This event resulted in us being termed SWUGS.

I was completely unaware that being a SWUG was a thing, and while some may be offended to be considered washed up, I say, embrace it. For example, one game day, I brought my whole Jimmy Johns sandwich into the bar — SWUG move. Or wearing jeans, a sweater, and *gasp* flat shoes downtown — SWUG move. Claiming a whole box of pizza to yourself at football block — SWUG move. Wearing your coat to a party because it’s ten degrees and snowing — SWUG move. We are at the point where our friends have seen us at our best and worst, and let’s be honest, who are any of us really trying to impress anymore?

Now that we are past the lovely recruitment season and we all have babies running around, our SWUG status has reached an all-time high. Nothing will make you feel less relevant than your guy friends of 4 years begging to be introduced to your new 18-year-old babies.

But being a SWUG is a badge of honor. It means you’ve already been that younger and crazier— and maybe more relevant? I don’t know your life

— version of yourself. You’ve already been the girl in the super high heels and super small dresses. You’ve been to date party after date party. You’ve worried about what people thought and tried to make a good impression. 

But now you’re older (and maybe wiser) than that, you’re past caring what people think. Embrace your SWUG status and if you’re not yet a senior, don’t worry, your time will come.