The Stress of Being a Senior in College

No one quite understands the stress of being a senior in college until you’re at that point. As a first semester senior, I’m experiencing first-hand exactly how it feels to be overwhelmed with so much stress. If you’re a senior, here’s what you’re most likely going through along with a few alternative ways to look at things.

1. Your last round of scheduling for Spring semester is no less stressful than any other semester. Figuring out exactly what classes you must take to graduate on time is a hassle and you still need to fight for spots in classes. Somehow, you’re still waitlisted as a senior. If you didn’t get into all the classes you needed, swallow your pride and go beg to be let into the course. It’s sad you have to beg but it’ll be worth it to graduate on time.
2. You don’t know if you’re on track or behind in your job searching. You’ll hear people talking about interviews they already have set up and you’ll hear people say they haven’t even thought about what job they want to pursue post-graduation. Everyone works at a different pace.
3. No one is ever going to stop asking you what your plan is…ever. Whether it’s your family nagging you, your advisors trying to help guide you, or your friends being concerned… everyone wants to know. Take a second and realize that if you don’t know at this point, it’s okay. You still have time. Not everyone secures a job right away, some people even take a summer off before submerging themselves into the real world.
4. Master’s degrees are helpful, but not for everyone. In many of your classes I’m sure your professors have pushed the idea of going to graduate school. I know that personally I considered it for a while and then a month into my senior year I decided additional schooling did not interest me whatsoever. For some areas of study, it is necessary to go to graduate school. And here’s something those within that category need to realize: even if you do not get into your graduate program of choice, you WILL get in somewhere. Sometimes it takes some additional research and looking outside of your comfort zone.
5. For those of us who feel we’re ready to be done, people are going to continually tell us to not wish it to be over so soon and to make the best of every situation. As much as we want to say they’re wrong, they’re right. We’re here to make a name for ourselves, but we’re also here to enjoy what are said to be the best four years of our lives.
6. The biggest thing I urge you to think about is that in some crazy, twisted way, things always work out. At times, you’re going to feel lost and confused, at times you’re going to feel like you’re never going to get to the point you want to be in life. It’ll happen, one way or another. Your future is ultimately in your own hands, if you want to be successful you need to make the steps to get to that point.
7. And lastly, don’t sweat the small stuff-words continually told to me by one of the most influential people in my life, words I’ll never forget.

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