Graduation is far enough away that it doesn’t feel real, but close enough that it’s not something you can ignore. It shows up in little ways, like walking out of class and realizing you won’t be in that room much longer or hearing someone mention their post-grad plans. Midterms, group projects, and trying to enjoy the remaining nice days on campus, senior year feels like an unspoken countdown.
Whether you want it to or not, part of that reality is the fact that all of the official stuff is starting to happen. One minute you’re starting your spring semester, and with the blink of an eye, you are applying for a degree conferral, checking your credits for the hundredth time, rereading emails, and checking deadlines. Then there’s ordering your cap and gown, which makes it even more real. None of these things seem like a big deal, but together they make graduation feel a lot closer than it did before. There’s this weird in-between feeling where you’re going through the same routines week after week, but you know that soon that will come to an end.
There’s a quick shift from going with the flow to suddenly being aware that anything can be your “last” at this point in the semester. There are a lot of “almost lasts”. Not yet the last time you’ll sit through a class, not yet the last time you’ll go out with these friends, and not yet the last time you’ll walk through these halls. But it’s enough to start noticing these meaningful moments, because even the things you used to complain about won’t seem so bad when you realize you won’t be doing them for much longer.
Then… there’s this classic question, “What are you doing after graduation?”
Some might find this easy to answer, and others do not. A lot of students are somewhat in the middle of figuring it out as they go. So many don’t realize how normal the uncertainty is, and just because graduation is getting closer doesn’t mean everything else suddenly becomes clear.
This feeling of uncertainty doesn’t have to be so stressful. There’s also this excitement about what’s to come and the life that you’re building for your future. Even if you don’t know exactly what’s coming, the idea that you’ve almost reached the end of all your hard work is something to look forward to.
Right now, there are still weeks until that final day, assignments to turn in, days to endure, and special moments to savor. So, this middle point is as confusing and sappy as it may sound, take a breath and take in these last few weeks. Soon, it will all be a memory, and you will miss the chaos of Cortland. This in-between time is what counts, this exciting stretch where nothing is totally over and things still feel possible. This is probably the best gift of senior year: learning to notice it all before rushing to the next chapter of your life.