It’s like senior year of high school all over again: job applications are the new college applications, you wonder how you’re going to function without your best friends, and you’re still not 100 percent confident you have this whole adult thing down. You also might just be wondering where in the world you’re going to be a year from now.
If you’re anything like me, that uncertainty is one of the most nerve-wracking ideas about senior year of college. It’s easy to let the stress and chaos get to you, and remember how fast senior year of high school flew by in high-stress mode? It’s a little unsettling to think about.
College is a time to learn independence, form lifelong friendships, and discover what kind of path you want your life to take. Because it's such a large milestone, it's important to take the time to enjoy your last year of your undergrad. These are a few ways I’m going to take to take my senior year in stride, and you might decide to try some of them.
Stop living for the weekend.
We’re all guilty. It’s Tuesday, but you’re already daydreaming about sleeping in until 10 a.m. on Saturday. If you set a negative tone for the majority of your week, not only does being productive become a lot more difficult, but it’s easier to take the little things for granted: cooking a delicious meal with your best friend or hitting it off with someone new. Take the time to appreciate the little things throughout your week and you might find you're more satisfied the whole week long.
Document the good times.
I am that person in the friend group: the one always taking pictures, recording a video, or documenting events on social media. I picked up this habit my junior year of high school and I promise you, it is worth the grief your friends might give you. A video of your annual Christmas cookie baking party might seem dumb now, but in three years when you’re feeling nostalgic, you might just appreciate it.
Explore everything your college town has to offer.
Every college town has a few tried-and-true restaurants the students have been going to for decades. Take some time to visit that Mexican restaurant that everyone raves about, but you just never made the time to go to. You might find something to come back to years after you graduate!
Stay on top of classes and applications.
As important as it is to make time for fun, it is equally as important to make sure you stay on top of your classes and job applications. Not much would be worse than for finals to roll around and you haven’t started looking for a single job, applied for grad school, or even have the slightest idea of where you’re headed after graduation. Set aside some time every month or so to evaluate where you are in your job search or narrow down your dream grad school. Take baby steps toward your future--you don’t need to make a giant leap at the very end of your senior year and hope you make it.
Talk to more people.
As a self-described “shy person,” this is one of the things I wish I had done more in college already. If you don’t get out of your circle much, senior year is the time to do so. Whether it be with your new neighbors down the hall, a new professor, or that alum that landed a job at a company you’ve been eyeing, you’ve heard a million times over that networking is crucial. Now is the time to do it.
Recognize your achievements and be proud!
College is not an easy task. You’ve come a long way in the last four years! The growing and changing you’ve done as a person in undeniable. Take a little time to celebrate yourself. It’s important to be aware of the impact your achievements have made on your future. Being confident and proud your senior year can only aid in creating a positive attitude that sets up your post-grad life.
