For a lot of college students, this day is one of the most anticipated since freshman orientation, second only to the actual graduation. It is also the time when seniors can reflect on all their accomplishments and lessons since starting school. Of course, not long after reflections, it is only natural for students to start thinking about life after college.
The first day of a last semester is like the end of an era, and seniors cannot help but begin it on an emotional roller coaster. With winter break just in our peripheral visions, most of us return to school dragging our heels and wishing it was over already. Boredom is quick to follow our impatience. Yes, it is a new semester, but how much is there really to learn that seven previous semesters have not already taught us? Then, once we accept that we are willingly stuck here for one last semester, we remember that freedom is only a few short months away. Enjoying the last semester’s work is much easier once we realize that time is actually flying instead of standing still. However, then comes the realization that this supposed freedom from one part of life is actually a permanent entrance into another. Adulthood is a daunting idea with too many connotations for any senior to not feel even a little apprehension.
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Fortunately, there is still one semester left to conquer before we are let loose on the world. Seniors can also rest somewhat easy with the knowledge that no matter the semester, there are still a few constants for every first day.
1. Celebrating Syllabus Day.
Syllabus Day, the first day of any semester, will always be a favorite unofficial holiday for students. Whether the professor decides to start with a brief overview or introductory lesson, Syllabus Day offers the perfect balance between relaxing and learning. It also necessarily provides a day of scholastic rest after a winter break filled with no essays or exams. Unlike most others, Syllabus Day forgives and eases the frazzled student back into a familiar, reassuring routine. Basically, this day is as relaxed as it gets in college, especially during senior year.
2. Reuniting with friends.
It is no secret that one of the main reasons students look forward to returning to school is to hang out with friends again. After all, some of the closest friends start as classmates, and students who study together survive their senioritis together. For many seniors, this might also be the last semester of seeing friends on a regular basis, especially if future employments pull people in different directions. Now is the time to strengthen friendships and make memories that will last a lifetime. Enjoy the over-priced coffee dates and crammed study sessions, but mostly cherish the people who make each outing memorable.
3. Looking to the future.
Even though it is only the beginning, the first day of any semester naturally encourages students to think about all the upcoming possibilities and events. We fantasized in high school, we have continued to daydream since freshman year, and we still find our minds occasionally wandering from the class readings to spring break or graduation. Of course, since this is the last semester, daydreaming about the new classes must soon become planning for the next step.
There is a big and scary world out there waiting for us seniors, even if we currently hold one or two jobs outside of classes. Juggling both school and work can be a challenge, but it is not quite the same as devoting all your resources to making a living. Horror stories about unemployment only add to this threatening picture of “the real world,” whether or not we are already living in it. However, preparation for adulthood is the exact reason why we started this scholastic journey, and we should feel proud to have made it this far.
Instead of worrying about where we might find ourselves in the next six months, let’s take this last semester one day at a time. We have our entire lives to question our choices, but reveling in our last semester starts now.
