The Senior Column

So here we are at last. Welcome to 2010, seniors! A little scary, isn't it? When did this happen? Last time I checked we were at orientation, receiving our Assumption e-mail addresses and setting up a Facebook account for the first time. Graduating (excuse me, I know the "G word" isn't very popular) wasn't comprehensible to us; it was the last thing on our minds. That August we moved into our new homes and began our new lives. Before we knew it our first Pup Cup was here and gone. We visited our friends over the summer and came back as sophomores with cars, more stuff than ever and a new President, fondly nicknamed "Pres Chez." The year flew by and with it came a World Series Championship and a Super Bowl fail (still too soon?). Then suddenly we became upperclassmen, who were still WAY too young to even think about the "G word." Without warning, junior year arrived and brought us an ice storm, cancelled finals, our own Winter and Spring Balls and many 21st birthdays. Before we knew it, senior year had crept up on us. Still, first semester offered some comfort. We were only first semester seniors; graduation was off in the distant future, after all it was still only 2009. Who cares that we had to verify names for diplomas? Who cares about the reminder letters sent to us and our families about Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement? What did it matter that we were taking senior pictures and sending our own photos in to the yearbook? We were still far enough away not to worry. All of a sudden 2010 hit us. Most were home for winter break and came back to school bombarded with reminders that this is it. It is the eighth and final semester of our undergraduate lives. Senior Week deposits are due, 100 Days is approaching fast and e-mails about Spring Ball tickets are already beginning to arrive in our Houndmail. There is no way to escape these constant reminders and, as can be expected, many of us aren't ready to deal with this. Up until about a week ago, I was one of those people. If anyone mentioned anything about May or this last semester I freaked out. I was like a small child being dropped off at school for the first time, begging not be left. Or I was that girl covering her ears so she couldn't hear the news that she didn't want to hear.

One day I was talking with some friends in Charlie's and someone mentioned that dreaded "G word." Per usual, I freaked and said I wasn't ready to deal with that just yet. Some agreed with me, but one friend did not. She said she was ready to graduate and had already begun to accept that she was leaving soon. Sarah, or Swy as I typically call her, told me "Every day I have one person say to me 'Sarah, you're graduating in May' and I know when May 15 comes around I'll be celebrating instead of freaking out because I've already accepted that fact." I was very hesitant to hear this at first. I don't want this to be the end of my undergraduate career. I'm not ready to grow up yet.

But I've realized I have to grow up some day. Graduation is coming, whether I'm ready for it or not. So I have two choices: I can wait until May 15 and spend one of the most important days of my life in shock or I can start to accept this looming date and spend it celebrating. I have decided to go with the second option. Now, I'm sure many of you are thinking that this means I'm checking out early and that I'm gone before it's even time to leave. But for those who are assuming this, I have to say it is not the case. By accepting that "G word," I plan on allowing myself to enjoy this last semester to the fullest extent. I want to have the best time possible because this is my last chance to do so, the last semester my friends will be a twominute walk away. Even though I'm not dreading May, I still fully intend to experience every minute of senior year. 100 Days, 50 Days, Last Night Out, all of Senior Week and every minute in between are mine for the taking.

So for all of you who cringe at the mention of May 15 or the word graduation, I say to you start accepting it because May will be here in the blink of an eye. For all of you who avoid talks of Senior Week and our last semester, I suggest you start talking. And for all of you who are only looking forward to Spring Break, this is my advice to you: don't let this semester go to waste. It can be the greatest 16 weeks we'll ever have at Assumption College if we let it be. I plan on making this happen and I challenge all of you to do the same. Take a chance. In the end, it will be worth it.