It has sort of just dawned on me that I'm in the spring semester of my junior year of college... Meaning, I'll be graduating next year. Where did the time go? To be cliche, it seemed like just yesterday, I was grumbling about having to be up at 6 AM for freshman orientation, and wondering aloud why we couldn't have a peaceful dinner reception at say, 6 PM? Over the past week or so, I've gone through these seven stages of realizing my college years have gone by way quicker than I thought. Though, to be honest, I can't tell which stage I'm currently in, or even what order these are supposed to go in.

1. Panic

Internships? Student loans? Getting a real job? Moving out of my parents' house? Paying bills on my own? Pretty sure all of those things define the word panic for a 21-year-old college student. This isn't one of those "keep calm, and..." situations. No, seriously. I'm freaking out, and maybe need a paper bag.

2. Shock

I kept telling myself to just get through this semester with good grades, then get through the next semester with good grades, and... My GPA is actually looking pretty great. Like, so good I could graduate cum laude. It's strange to think I was coaching myself through, day by day, week by week, month by month, semester by semester, and it... paid off. Just like everyone always told me it would. (Thanks, Mom!)

3. Pride

Once the shock wears off, I think I've earned the right to be proud of myself. Just because I got through it doesn't mean it was or ever will be easy. Sometimes (all the time), college is a true test of both my mental health and my sanity, but I'm almost to the finish line and I'm (pretty much) in one piece?! I think that is worth praising and celebrating.

4. Elation

(If you don't dance like this when you're excited, you're doing it wrong.)

What will life be like, once I no longer have the storm cloud of homework looming over my head? I can go out on a Tuesday night, sleep in on a Thursday morning, not have to set an alarm for every Monday! I can take a vacation!

5. Depression

... Unless I can't get a job after college, and my degree is useless, and it's on the top 10 list of most worthless majors, and I remain stuck at my retail job, and I'm still living in my parents' house, and I'm still poor.

6. Optimism

I can't be down on myself, I have to stay focused and determined. My dreams are too big to fall short of them now. I survived college, and I endured finals week like 8 times, so I can basically survive anything. Right?

7. Acceptance

All of the old adages are true. Life isn't a race, but a journey. What will be, will be. Blah, blah, blah. But it's true. You have your whole life to be settled down, married (or unmarried), with a family (or without one), so you might as well take your time getting there. It's okay to be a little messy, and color outside of the lines. None of this comes with a guidebook, complete with spoilers, cheat codes, and neat tips on how to stay alive. My point? Take a deep breath. And, in the wise words of Jess Day, we've got this.