Start of Senior Year!

 
This past week I started my senior year of college, and I still can’t quite believe how fast time has gone. It feels like I was just moving into my freshman dorm, nervous and excited about what was ahead. Now I’m pulling up to campus for my last first day. People always say college goes by in the blink of an eye, but I don’t think I truly understood that until now.

Walking into classes this week carried a different kind of energy. In past years, the first week was about finding classrooms, buying the right textbooks and settling into new routines. This year, though, there’s an added layer of nostalgia and anticipation. Every first is also a last—my last first syllabus week, my last first icebreaker introductions, my last time setting up a schedule that only lasts one more year.

Part of me feels like I should have everything figured out by now. The reality is, I don’t. College has been full of surprises, challenges and opportunities I never could have predicted. I know this year will be no different. There’s pressure that comes with senior year—the thought of jobs, grad school and real life feels closer than ever. At the same time, I don’t want that pressure to overshadow the present. I want to make the most of this year while I have it.

What stands out most is how much I’ve grown since that first week of freshman year. Back then, I was figuring out who I was and where I fit in. Now, I see how much confidence, experience and perspective I’ve gained. I’ve built friendships that feel like family, discovered passions I never expected and learned lessons that go far beyond the classroom.

Even though it’s surreal to say “senior year,” I’m choosing to embrace it. This first week reminded me how special this chapter is and how important it is to slow down and savor it. I know the next months will go by just as quickly as the past three years, but I want to hold onto the little moments—the walks across campus, late-night conversations and even early mornings in class—because they’re all part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Here’s to a final year of growth, memories and appreciating how far I’ve come.