Ali A: Four things to do (and one not to do) during your senior year
- Take as many pictures as you possibly can! Use your phone or a camera (I personally love using my Polaroid!) and take photos of people, places, and events you want to remember. I have so many amazing memories from my time at BU, and I wish I had taken more pictures to remember them by. It’s not like you’ll forget those experiences, but having a physical reminder of them makes them even more vivid and lets you hold onto them forever.
- Say yes to everything. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but there’s a good chance you won’t be seeing a lot of your college friends on a daily basis anymore after you graduate, so take advantage of the time you have together now! Go to movie nights and coffee dates and soak up as much of it as you can, because you’ll be surprised at how quickly it flies by.
- Don’t be afraid to say no. Senior year is stressful for everyone, between classes and extracurriculars and trying to figure out what you’re going to do after graduation. It can be exhausting, and it’s important to take time for yourself. Make time to relax and unwind so you don’t fall victim to burnout. This also gives you time to catch up on classwork and make sure you don’t fall behind in any classes — especially if you need the credits to graduate!
- Start figuring out how to be an adult. I personally think the phrase “adulting” is cringey and overused, but there’s some truth to it. Learning some basic cooking techniques beyond making buttered noodles and maintaining a budget are just a few of the skills you can work on while you’re still in college that will make all the difference when you graduate. The transition from college to being a full-time adult is already challenging, but if you can mitigate some of that by being prepared to live on your own and take care of yourself, you’re already halfway there.
- Don’t compare yourself to your friends and classmates. It’s hard to not scroll through Twitter or Instagram and see everyone you’ve ever met posting about the amazing, exciting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities they’re pursuing after graduation. It’s even easier to start doubting yourself — Am I behind? Why does everyone else seem like they know what they’re doing, but I don’t? It’s cliche but it’s true: you can’t measure your own success by comparing yourself to others. It’s a toxic way to think and will make you miserable if you let it. You’ll figure it out at your own pace, and that’s okay! Try to live in the moment and not dwell too much on the future when you have so much left to experience and enjoy before you graduate.
