So many things have happened over the past few weeks. My course load and work responsibilities have ramped up, content creation on my other platforms has been taking off, and I’ve been feeling some feelings about things going on around me. Today’s post is a little homage to my time dedicated to college lifestyle blogging. I think I have successfully broadened my blogging horizons beyond my collegiate advice. But, I think there’s one more post that I need to write before I say peace out for good.
Senioritis hit me hard. I was already traveling almost every single weekend from January to March for graduate school interviews. Between no classes on Fridays and mentally simple electives like graphic design and science policy, I was breezing through my classes. I was in one chemistry lab but was otherwise finished with my major. I can’t tell you how excited I was for the next chapter of my life.
There was this incredible feeling of completion. It was as though I had sucked up all of what Chapel Hill could offer me like a sponge. I was so ready to move on. You can only imagine how that intensified once I knew that I would be headed to NYC after the summer ended.
Views From Post-Grad
Post-grad life is hard. I think everyone feels a little lonely, complacent, or stressed out once they enter the real world [or for some of us it feels more like purgatory between school and the real world]. I love New York City and the people I’ve met here. I’ve had so many incredible opportunities and half the time it feels like I’m living in a dream. But, there are incredible lows.
Loneliness can be intense especially when you’ve just moved to the largest city in the country with absolutely no friends or family. The comparison game is incredible when literal models are stalking down the street looking photo-ready at all times. This is the farthest I’ve been from family and if it weren’t for FaceTime and group messages, I’d be in a world of trouble.
All that being said, don’t wish away your last few months of undergrad. You definitely don’t want to bog down your days worrying about the future. Be diligent in your job search/school decisions, but take plenty of time away from it. Here are 10 things to do when you want to be anywhere but your future alma mater.
Hang out with one of your friends you love to hang out with but never see.
These are going to be the last few months that you’ll be in this hub of your peers. Remember that awesome gal that you met in Intro to Marine Biology first semester freshman year. Reach out and plan to meet up for coffee. Networking and contact making are gonna be huge in post-grad so might as well practice now.
Take advantage of a free campus-sponsored event.
Free events are super common here in NYC, but you’ll still miss the free university events that almost always include free food or free goodies. Check out some on-campus events to bask in the glory of free stuff {I followed the UNC student union on twitter for all the inside scoop}.
Go to a fitness class.
You’ll appreciate the one-time fees that went towards giving you access to the campus recreation centers way more once you leave campus. I highly recommend checking out a Zumba, Kickboxing, or Circuit class and making it a consistent habit!
Pick one local tradition/neighborhood spot a week to visit again until graduation.
I low key made a list of all my favorite spots during the winter break before my graduation semester. I made sure to mark every place off my list before May. From bars to restaurants to famous Chapel Hill establishments, I hit them all.
Plan a final day/road trip for your friends between the end of class and graduation day.
My friends and I road tripped to Charleston for our last hurrah. The trip was full of laughs, drama {when your friends for four years, you’re more like family lol}, and good food. I highly recommend taking a break from campus, ironically. It’s also good practice for when you’ll inevitable visit each other in the years to come.
Schedule some type of senior pictures.
I might be biased as a portrait photographer, but I think senior pictures are the most fun. I absolutely loved capturing this moment for so many seniors last year. But, I love the single and group photos that I have to look back on for myself. Pick a photographer that you’re comfortable with and be sure to take some creative, personality-filled shots too.
Show up to your campus organization events and be engaged.
I wasn’t as involved in all my campus organizations my last semester because I was on the executive board for my gender inclusive fraternity. But, I wish I would have been more active. I think that helps you feel more connected to your campus when you’re otherwise ready to leave.
Turn the too small college t-shirts from your first year into a quilt.
I still haven’t done this, but you definitely should. Keep your super oversized ones to sleep in and repurpose the rest. Am I Marie Kondo, yet? No, okay.
Have a meeting with an advisor, director, or professor and tell them how they impacted your journey and what’d you like to see from them in the future.
We’ve all had that one professor who inspired us to pursue a career path or be interested in a new subject. This is your chance to tell them how they impacted your career and to tell them to keep doing what they’re doing. Professors love this kind of feedback and I can’t tell you how cathartic it was to reflect on my experience within my program.
Go to class and just listen.
Most of my college class time experience was scribbling as many notes as possible and hoping that it all made sense. At this point in your career, tests and quizzes likely aren’t determining your grade or really impacting your future. It was nice to sit in my web design class and just listen to the tips my professor shared on user interactions, colors, and general design aesthetics. It was nice to just absorb. Also, go to class. You’ll be tempted to skip and like, don’t do it.
Teddy Coat | Jeans | Sweater (similar | plus)
Those are my best tips for spending your last semester on top. You might be on your way out, but honestly, this is one of the best times to be involved. The impact that you can have on younger students can be incredible. Also, you’ll feel so good after people have said “wow, you’ve made it! Congrats!” about 10,000 times.
keep on keepin’ on,
