Hey, college seniors. It's me again, here to give you some of the last nostalgic articles of senior year. The past few, however, were in first semester. The first semester of your senior year is a tease, like standing on a ledge, holding a pair of binoculars looking at an enormously fatal, but slow-moving, hurricane coming at you in about four months. Now, the storm is upon us my friends as we begin the final months of our long journey. I'm here to give you some advice on how to make sure you do this last semester right, socially, academically, and professionally. Here's how to do your last semester of college.
1. Realize how blessed you are during that last winter break
Because you know you're never gonna get a whole month off ever again or regularly-scheduled breaks every few months ever again, or four months off in the summer ever again. That is, unless you're unemployed.
2. Realize what it really means to have only four months of school left
You've spent almost the last two decades of your life in school. Your whole life has been focused and spent on your academic career, and it all comes down to these last four months. Four last months of tests, papers, late-night study sessions and worrying about your grades. Four last months of being a student, being part of a campus and the student body, seeing your friends all the time and being able to use the "I'm in college" excuse for everything.
3. Stop putting off looking for a job
Look into your future now: clean up your resume, get a bunch of your samples ready or call your mom's uncle's wife's friend that's high-up in the field your interested in. Start figuring out your future plans now, so, at graduation, you won't feel like your life is completely empty and you have no plans for the foreseeable future. I know it's intimidating and scary, but you've spent your whole life waiting for this amazing career, and you've done the work to go after it.
4. Plan that crazy-amazing-collegey spring break with your squad
It might be the last time you're all together and the last time you can all be completely wasted for a week straight on a beach somewhere. After all, did you really go to college if you didn't have a wild spring break? (yes, you definitely did, but you know what I mean.)
5. Soak it all up
Everything: those lazy Tuesday nights when you're just watching Netflix in bed, that dumb party you only go to for an hour, every annoying lecture, the walks to class in the snow and rain and that first warm day of spring. Realize these are your last few months of being in this collegiate bliss and enjoy every annoying second of it all.
6. Don't give in to the senioritis
I know it's really tempting to just say "Fuck it all, I'm a second-semester senior," but don't do it. This is the final stretch, perhaps the most difficult part, and you don't want to give up now after all the hard work you've already put in. And if you're anything like me, you probably have those last few necessary credits to finish in order to graduate, so now is the worst time irk on your responsibilities.
7. Wear the sweatpants
That's right. You heard me. Wear the sweatpants to class. Hell, wear the sweatpants to the party. This is the last time that it is socially acceptable to wear sweatpants out in public or to a semi-professional setting, like an academic class. Wear the sweatpants and love it.
8. Be grateful
To your parents, first and foremost, for their support (either financially or emotionally, or both, or in anyway possible). To your friends, for sticking through with you for four years, during every amazing and heartbreaking moment. To your professors, for giving you the tools and knowledge you need to do what you want with your life. To yourself, for actually pushing yourself and making it this far in your life. You fucking did it.
9. Don't be scared, be excited
I know it's crazy that we're actually at this point. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were wide-eyed innocent freshman, unaware of the realities of dorm-life, campus culture and late night pizza orders? We've changed and matured so much since those first hot August days of freshman year, and you can actually look back and see that change both mentally and on through your Facebook memories. You've earned the future that you've worked so hard for, so don't let it scare you.
