So you blinked once and now it’s your last year of college. You’re excited, sad, nervous, and every emotion in between. Time is not going to slow down but that doesn’t mean you can’t take the time the make the most of what you have left.
While you take on the year that’s ahead of you, here are some reminders and thoughts to help you make the most of each day and each opportunity.
1. Spend as much time with your friends as possible.
College will be the only time where it’s acceptable and possible for you and your four closest friends to stay up until 4:00 a.m. on a weeknight watching Netflix, eating pizza, and drinking wine (if you can do that post-grad life too, more power to you). You and your friends might not ever be living this close to each other or be on the same schedule ever again.
2. Join that one club that you’ve had your eye on for years but never thought you’d have time.
If it means you can have fun and laugh everyday, do it. You don’t remember college for the times that you came back to your room and scrolled Instagram for a few hours, you remember it for the experiences you had.
3. Have fun but don’t forget about your classes.
Senior year seems like an ideal time to slack off, but very important future endeavors can be impacted by your classes and involvement this year. Show up and give it all you’ve got.
4. Attend events on your campus like performances, concerts, and games.
Remember, everything costs money once you graduate college. Take advantage of all of the cool, free things you have on your campus and discover new interests.
5. Take a class just for fun.
So your campus offers a scuba diving certification class? Sign me up!
6. Befriend the freshmen.
While you’re finishing your amazing college journey, some are just starting. Talk to them and make them feel comfortable and excited for the time that they’ve got ahead of them. It’ll be nice for them to see a familiar face when walking around campus.
7. Find a mentor.
You may already have one, but if you don’t, find a professional that you can go to for advice about life and your future career. Mentors are great for helping you find internships, for helping you connect to other helpful professionals, and are great for just talking with.
8. Take time to look back on how far you’ve come.
It’s been a wild ride but you’ve made some of the best memories of your life. Print pictures, reminisce on old stories, and visit your favorite places. Looking back on where you came from can help you prepare for what’s ahead.
So take a deep breath, relax, and have an amazing year. You’re going to do great things.