Three and a half years of your life just flew by in about the amount of time it takes to down a shot of tequila and realizing that there is only one semester left in your undergraduate career makes you cringe even more. The reality is here and as sad and intimidating as it is, all good things must come to an end. This does not mean that the fun comes to an end, but it does mean that this upcoming semester is one to cherish more than ever before. It is also a time for reflection on the prior seven (give or take) semesters that got you to where you are today.

Freshman Year

It seems like yesterday that you were loading your family car up with every article of clothing, toiletry item, and single serve helping of Easy Mac you could fit to haul off to the unknown land of college. The thought of leaving your safe haven was one of the most scary and exciting feelings in the world and let’s be honest the family dog was probably your hardest goodbye. But you’re doing it, it’s happening. You’ve been told that you’re about to experience the best four years of your life about a million times and you intend on making it just that.

The two semesters of freshman year contained a whirlwind of emotions. From missing home to discovering the thing they call “hangovers,” it was quite a ride. You met new friends; some that you might still have today, and some that didn’t make it on your journey. Freshman year helped you discover yourself outside of your hometown and outside of whom you always defined yourself as. As rough and crazy as it was, you will never, ever forget: living in the dorms, having a meal plan, finding classes on campus, your first frat party, the list goes on and on.

Sophomore Year

Sophomore year was a year to still figure everything out. Maybe you switched your major once or twice, got into that fling that was doomed from the beginning, or discovered what the phrase “roommate from hell” really meant. Through each high and low a memory was born and a lesson was taught. Times that we can laugh about now and tell our kids later. This year was still the beginning portion of our self-realization and even though it may be a little blurry it is no less important.

Junior Year

Before you knew it you were entering your third year of college and thoughts of the future came to mind, but they were still too scary to think about too much. College was halfway over, but you still had two more years to live it up. Junior year was a year of new opportunities. Opportunities to live with true friends, to go out to the bars after turning 21, and for some, to study abroad for a semester in another country. You were out of the dorms and branching out to making meals more advanced than soup and grilled cheese, but still within your broke college student budget, because at this point you were like, really broke. You finally found the perfect hangover remedy and were feeling unstoppable. Even though classes were getting harder and time management was nearly impossible, you were trying your best and knew it would pay off eventually. Ending junior year and going into your last “free” summer was bittersweet, but holding onto the fact that you had one more year in your home away from home was enough to get you through.

Senior Year

We made it to where we are today, the big, bad senior year. Or should I say scary, bittersweet senior year? How far we have come from thinking we had all the time in the world before us to now coming down to the final four months. Whether you are feeling a sense of terror, relief, or just completely numb, rest assure that it is going to be okay. No one has everything together quite yet and don’t compare yourself to those who look like they do. This last semester is completely yours to prepare yourself for the time to come, say goodbye to the times you have had, and make more amazing memories in the town that made you who you are. The next chapter in your life is coming fast, but not without a few more shots of tequila.