The college experience comes with high expectations, but I was skeptical at first. It was hard to imagine it topping my high school experience, where I had wonderful friendships, volleyball, gymnastics, and teachers who made classes enjoyable. I was sad to leave my home, family, and friends.

If only they could see me now! Four years later, I feel the exact same way about leaving college, but to an even greater extent.

The Gift of Time

College has taught me so much about myself and who I want to be. It granted me the freedom to make my own choices. I was able to sign up for activities I was interested in and take classes I truly cared about.

College also gave me the gift of time—more free time than I might ever have again. I have taken this opportunity to fill my schedule with as many activities and events as possible. Now that college is ending, the question I’m asked most often is how to best soak in senior year.

Memories in the Making

With just two months left, I find myself trying to fill every opening in my schedule. Between classes, I am scheduling coffee dates or lunch with friends. I have even gotten involved in all the spring intramurals: sand volleyball, softball, and tennis. I am even attending meetings for clubs that I wanted to join but never previously found the time for.

Though I have enjoyed these planned activities, I’ve had a realization. The casual roommate time before bed, chatting on the stairs while we get ready, is what I will miss most. The best memories were made in those moments with friends when it just happened.

Savoring the Final Weeks

To enjoy these last couple of months to the fullest, I am going to try to be as present as I can be. I plan to have more nights in with my friends where we play cards, sit around, and just make each other laugh.

I also plan to do the bucket list activities I haven’t gotten to yet, like visiting a neighboring city for the day and checking out the Rocky Steps.

My final advice is this: spend time with your best friends, make a bucket list if you haven’t already, and check off every last item!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started!