Reality is finally starting to sit in. The first two week s of school are complete. Things are starting to pick up and first assignments are almost due. The campus is full of new faces as the freshmen cause long lines and no parking. Emails and flyers about auditions and interest meetings are beginning to fill the campus. School is back in session, things are back to normal. Everything is fine and dandy…. except for the fact that it’s senior year. Yes, four years of undergrad are just about through and I have that same feeling I had when I began my senior year in high school, just through.

I’m over it. I’m ready. I’m not prepared to graduate tomorrow but I’m excited to figure out the next destination in my journey. Graduation is eight months away and it’s pretty cool to think of the person I’ll be by that time. As a graduating senior, creating my schedule seemed to be like a game of adding up credits. And that’s okay because I’m so dorky, I like to take classes in different subjects to help me become well-rounded. I feel so mentally skilled after being in college for three years that I’ve even gained an interest in grad-school.

Even though I was “over it” by my senior year in high school and now I’m “through,” I do become a bit overwhelmed, especially when I think about hunting for a grad-school, completing the testing and application process, job searching, the fact I will have a new bill six months after graduating if I do not choose to attend grad-school, the internship I’m currently completing, the six classes I take and the job that I go home to work on the weekends. These are real life concerns and causes of stress for college students. A planner and about 15 alarms are needed on a daily basis.

When we aren’t stressing about what’s due or what’s next, being a senior is pretty cool for the most part. I’m an automatic leader on campus. I wear the simplest fits and I don’t worry about popularity or friends. I’m focused so much on my future and by the conversations I have with my classmates, so is everyone else.

There is probably a good amount of seniors who aren’t ready to graduate (they were probably sad to leave high school too.) But I’m totally fine with my four years being up. Life goes on, it never stops. I am thankful for the experience and all of the knowledge, wisdom and pride I’ve obtained. I know the memories I create these last two semesters will exceed my previous years. I am humbled but I knew all along I would and could do it. May, 2017 my baby sisters will witness their first sister graduate from college and go on to follow her dreams. Thank God I made it this far… now I’m out of here!