Senior year is a scary time. The past couple years have flown past, and now you don’t have “next year” to do something; “next year” is here, and you have to face the facts. Freshman year seems like it was just yesterday, but it also feels like it was forever ago. Anxiety and excitement about the future are building, but sometimes you might feel like giving up. College may have been a stressful time, but you’ve always had your friends right by your side. Now you’re going to have to face the adult world alone (which is a scary thing because wearing sweats 24/7 will no longer be acceptable). If you’re feeling like I am, this article is for you. Enjoy every minute of the rest of your time in college, and don’t be afraid of the future.

1. You feel pretty confident about things at school now.

Seeing freshmen running around with worried expressions makes you smile; you finally have things figured out. And that’s a great feeling… but you’re graduating soon. Why does it have to work like that?

2. You probably stopped sweating the small things a long time ago.

Friend drama? One bad grade? In the grand scheme of things, you know that it does not matter. You will be doing big things with your life, and you don’t need anything slowing you down.

3. Thesis?

So if you’re like me, then you have to write and defend an undergrad thesis or a capstone project. This is your first time that you have to defend an idea that is entirely your own to a bunch of professionals. *gulp.*

4. Looking at grad schools.

Remember when you thought you were done taking big tests and applying to colleges? Wrong. Senior year means doing it all over again if you are thinking about going to grad school. Oh joy.

5. Career choices.

“So what are you going to do when you grad--" Nope. Please don’t ask me that; I’m just trying to make it through the year.

6. Paying off loans.

Freshman year, student loans didn’t seem to matter so much. “That’s a problem for future me to worry about!” Well, that time is coming soon, so buckle up and start eating peanut butter and jelly!

8. You're really going to miss your friends.

I have made some of the most amazing friends in the past couple years, and I am definitely not ready to leave them.

7. Finding your place in the world.

This is such a big transitional time. You went from being a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed freshman to being a full-blown adult. College has been amazing, and now it’s time to find out where you’re really supposed to be. Live it up.