As a senior in a four-year program at a university, I have been just about through every college experience one can think of. I have done keg stands. I have stayed up until the wee hours of the early morning to finish a paper. I have sat through countless classes to finally get that piece of paper at graduation that proves that I can stick to something, and that I am smarter than the average bear.

People like to say that your first four years of college are going to be the best of your life. It is a time when you can blow things off relentlessly, eat and drink basically whatever you want with little consequence, and get to learn interesting things in the process. However, I disagree. If these past four years are going to be the best years of my life, then I have a mildly unsatisfying, extremely stressful road ahead!

First off, at this point in my life, nothing is certain. I do not wake up in the morning content; it is the opposite, actually. I am filled with anxiety because I do not have a house or a car that are my own and paid for. I do not have a good job that will support my livelihood. Currently, I have a “filler” job at a restaurant, which is the only type I can have while being in school. Being in school has prevented me from gaining experience in a better job that would have me living more comfortably. I definitely do not want to feel like this in the “best years of my life.”

In college, I am forced to think about at least five different classes in a semester. I cannot devote my time to one thing. If I could, I would most definitely have a 100 percent A in every class. I am the managing editor at my university’s newspaper, so I have to edit every single article that is published in the paper. However, some errors still slip through because it is not the only thing that I have to devote my brainpower to. I am excited for when I just have a job in the future to focus all of my knowledge and efforts, instead of breaking myself into so many pieces just to keep up with rigorous academics, like I do now.

I honestly cannot wait for when I do not have to watch my bank account like a hawk. I want to be able to afford a manicure whenever. I want to be able to buy a nice pair of running shoes when my old ones give out. I want to be able to take my boyfriend to dinner without breaking the bank. I want to be able to buy my mom a really nice Christmas gift for once. Being in college, I do not have the ability to do any of these very simple things.

Do not get me wrong -- undergrad is a great experience and I am thankful that I was able to spend four years at a university. However, this is definitely not the best time in my life, and I look forward to much brighter roads ahead.