First of all, congratulations. You've been through three years of huge changes, ranging in impact from learning how to not burn popcorn in the microwave to learning how to balance school, friends, sleep, and finances while living away from home. Now, you're looking at one more year of the things you know, before striking off for some great unknown.
Change can be pretty exciting, of course, but it's an anxious kind of exciting. Senior year is a time when you begin to truly grasp the fact that life, as you've known it for the past few years, is about to radically change, and the thoughts and feelings that result from that realization can be overwhelming. Sometimes so much so, that you may feel yourself gliding through the present in anticipation of the future. Paradoxically, this just makes the time go by faster -- and if you're like me, you loathe the sort of change that speeds by without giving you time to even acknowledge it.
If you've seen "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," pay attention. If you haven't, please watch it before you read any more of this. Please.
This article is my attempt to be the Ferris to your Cameron -- mostly because it's nice to break routine, stop worrying about what could happen, and focus on being present in the last year of your college career.
So, of course, focusing on school work, the future, your career and all the taxes that go with adulthood is necessary. Don't shirk your responsibilities just to have fun. But for those of you (re: me) who worry so much about your future responsibilities that you don't even pay attention to your current ones, prioritizing is a useful life skill to learn. For example, it is definitely more prudent to do something about the massive laundry pile growing in your room than to plan out how you expect to afford the home you may be purchasing at thirty-five. Get a fancy planner, make to-do lists, do whatever helps you remain grounded in what is currently important.
On the social front, take some risks. I'm not suggesting you sing Beatles songs from a giant float during the middle of a city parade (unless that's something you're into), but maybe it wouldn't kill you to stop and smell the roses, and go to that annual bonfire you've always skipped out on because you only knew a few people going. And just for the record, that issue may be just an introvert thing, so I apologize if it isn't completely relatable to all you social butterflies out there.
After a few years, it can be easy to lock in on the friends you have, and not use up much effort to make any new ones. I'm just going to spare you all the time and effort of realizing how wrong that mentality is, and just let you know that some of my best friends now are people that I met during my senior year--some at the very tail-end of it. People can surprise you, especially if you thought you already knew everyone in the small school you may or may not go to.
All that I'm trying to convey can be summed up in the vaguely-hippie idea of being present in all that you do. If your mind is wandering down the next couple years of your life, the months you have left will speed by. If that's something you want, then I hope my fears can be your encouragement. College isn't always a fun-filled, worry-free time, and if you're looking at this next year with a dreadful gaze, I wish you the best of luck.
Listen to good music, keep your head down and get out into the world with a diploma and a future to make better. But if college is something that worries you to leave, no matter what the reason, enjoy all that you can of it before you go. Take things one step at a time, meet interesting people, drink a lot of coffee, and never forget to be present. Besides, in the wise and cheesy words of my favorite cheeky 80's movie character, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."
