With the fall semester quickly coming to an end, I have naturally begun to think about graduating in the spring. The idea of my college experience coming to an end is both exciting and terrifying, but it has  also encouraged me to value the little things. There is a lot I’m going to miss, so I’ve compiled a list of things (in no particular order) that I plan to appreciate more over my last few months. I encourage all seniors to do the same: 

The squirrels

As silly as this sounds, I love the squirrels on this campus. I always see memes and other posts on the internet that talk about how college squirrels act differently than regular squirrels, and I believe it. They’re just so quirky and fun-loving; there’s one that hangs around Lot B who loves playing Peekaboo.

My professors

I’ve had great professors over the course of my college career, but I have to give a shout out to the English department in particular. You know it’s a great department when you struggle deciding who you want to take a class with because they’re all so great. Registering for my final semester sucked because I realized I would never be taking a class with many of them again. My professors have encouraged me, worked me hard, exposed me to topics I never knew I would be interested in, and scolded me for doubting myself. For that, I am grateful. 

Living with my friends

There’s nothing like living with your best buddies. You always have someone to rant to, grab a meal with, watch a movie, play a game. Most of my roommates are a year younger than me, so I’ll be leaving them behind in May. When they said college would be the best four years of your life, I’m pretty certain living with friends is a major reason why. 

Writing for The Comenian

Writing for this paper helped me discover that I love writing reviews. What better way to combine my love of writing with my love of musical theatre? I’m sure I’ll still write in my free time, and maybe I’ll even find a job at a local paper or magazine (hire me please!), but I’ll miss the staff that I’ve worked with over the past two years. 

Not having to cook my own food

The food on campus isn’t the greatest, but I still appreciate not having to cook. I like to eat, but I don’t have the patience to boil a pot of water; adulthood is going to be interesting. 

Campus events

Even though I never win, there’s nothing like the thrill of Bingo. I also love the Broadway trips because I am a huge theatre nerd. There’s so much to do on this campus, and I’m going to savor these last few months attending events with my friends; free Bingo and Broadway trips aren’t going to last forever! Although, Fall Fest is open to the public, so you can bet that I’ll be showing up after graduation to pet some goats. 

Taking classes

Although my classes stress me out like there’s no tomorrow, I also love to learn. I’m not saying that learning ends once I graduate, but the class setting does. I didn’t realize how much I love attending classes and sharing ideas until it dawned on me that it’s not going to last forever. My entire life has revolved around school, so it’s going to be a whole new world once that ends. 

Hearing the bells play the alma mater at 4 p.m.

This never fails to bring a smile to my face. I’ve always thought that our alma mater is beautiful, and hearing the bells play it every afternoon is something I look forward to. 

Watching the sunset over Makuvek Field

I can’t even tell you how many pictures I have of sunsets over this field on my phone. My favorite part of the day is walking out of the HUB to see the streaks of yellows, oranges, pinks, and purples across the sky. 

Hanging out in the Writing Center

The Writing Center is essentially the HUB of the English department. Most people walk in for an appointment, but I love to go there to get some work done. It’s an environment other your dorm or the library to crack down on assignments, but it’s also a great place to catch up with your peers. I’ve done a lot of reading, finished a lot of writing, and eaten a lot of sushi in the Writing Center, and I’m going to miss my go-to spot.