When people say college will go by fast, they aren’t lying. I feel like I blinked and suddenly college is almost over. Soon graduation will be here and we’ll all be ejected into the real world. Some people are OK with this, but to others the mere thought makes them want to cry. It suddenly hits you that it probably won’t ever be acceptable again to roll out of bed at seven in the morning and put sweatpants on because you’ll have real world responsibilities, and sweatpants won’t cut it. You can still go to the bar and and drink to your heart’s desire, but you’ll probably end up paying for it the next day.

When you first entered college, the world was your oyster. Now you’ve come full circle, and the world seems like a bigger, more intimidating oyster. The pearl is out there but you can’t seem to find it right now. Senior year is the culmination of your academic endeavors. Your left wondering if all your efforts will pay off and help you make it in the real world. Here you are. This is it. You’re teetering on the edge, not sure if you’re ready to jump in.

I know at least, this is how I feel. Your 20s can be hard. You're getting older, but you still feel so young. You’re wading in a deep pond of comparison. Senior year is a muddled mix of doubt, excitement, thrill and every emotion you can fit in between those. There will be very high highs and some pretty low lows. I don’t have everything figured out, and truthfully I don’t think anyone does. Life never gets easier, you just get better at it.

As seniors, we have a lot to be proud of. You might not think you’ve accomplished a lot, but you have. If you asked freshman year me if she believed that she would every do some of the things that I have done, she would have said "never in a million years." You’ve done so many things and you can do some many more. Right now everything seems so vast and uncertain, and that is sort of terrifying. Even if you haven’t done much at all, you’ve made it this far and that, my friend, is something to be damn proud of. As much as college has helped guide you, only you can create your future. Dr. Seuss said it right, "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose."

Graduation may be approaching, but know this: you’ll be OK. You have so much to offer the world. Try not to doubt yourself, and believe you can do it. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and in the words of John Waters, “Go out in the world and f*ck it up beautifully.”