Encroaching on senior year is exciting, whether you’re in high school, an undergrad, or in your final year of grad school, your tummy is filled with butterflies. For many people it’s a major milestone in life; it is an accomplishment to be celebrated. However, with all of those joyous feelings, the imminent feeling of fear looms overhead as the end draws near.

For many, graduation is a time of unease and mixed emotion. People always tell you that your time in college will be the best years of your life. You forge connections with people that will last a lifetime. You can stumble out of bed and crawl to class in PJs and generally won’t be judged. College is truly a unique time in your life; we assume the roles of adults, but also revel in our youth. After all, we’re still figuring it out because adulting is hard. Graduation is a time filled with hope for what the future holds. The world is your oyster, or so they say…

As my time here at college nears the end, I feel a sense of renewed. A new chapter of my life will begin. I will embark into the world, ready to take it by the horns. No longer will I be a slave to canvas (my college’s choice of online platform), no longer will I agonize over an exam, no longer will I have to share my sleeping quarters with a stranger. Ahh, what a relief.

At the same time, the thought of graduating fills me with crippling anxiety. I do not feel hopeful for my future. I am paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. My student debt –something most can relate to - keeps me awake at night. I worry that I will struggle with my debt. I am petrified that I won’t be able to find a decent job. I don’t want my life to be ruled by money – but it’s a reality most of us have to face.

I know that I have received an amazing education. My professors are truly amazing – not only with their academia, but also with networking and making it their mission to have us leaving here well prepared for entering the work force. That knowledge is liberating and provides some relief for me.

Impending graduation is a hard thing to grapple with; I find solace in the fact that I am not alone in feeling this way. I think part of that feeling of unease is because once you graduate you have to have faith. Faith that your professors have provided you with the necessary skills to succeed, faith that you can land that job you want, faith that you can achieve your goals, and most importantly, faith in yourself.

For those of my peers that are about to enter into their final semester of their senior year – we got this.