Ah the day after Labor Day, or as I like to call it, the 1st Day of School. Many of universities have started the semester a week before, but I was one of many still struggling to hold on to the final hours of summer.
This morning I debated if I should get out of bed or not, simply because I was dreading the first day of the semester. I haven’t been a fan of the first day of school since nap time was a scheduled activity.
Nothing motivated me to get out of bed until my hunger brought me out of laziness that I finally started my day. After the satisfaction of having my hunger subsided, I realized that today, I am a Super Senior.
A Super Senior (to not get confused with the term Super Kindergarten) is a college student who is a senior and has been in college for more than 4 years.
Today marked the beginning of my fifth year of college and although I had many reasons to go to class today, I wasn’t happy about it. Like many Super Seniors, all of my friends already graduated last semester, which leaves me a bit lonely on campus.
The second realization I had this morning is that I would actually have to make friends. Me being an introvert in a huge campus such as Rutgers is one of the most intimidating tasks I could think of. (Did I mention I am a commuter? #commuterlife) Already, I felt done with the semester.
After forgetting college essentials and running back home about three times, I was finally on my way to school and running late as usual. I managed to be nearly 20 minutes late but whatever, its syllabus week.
Professors can’t seriously expect that students will show up to their classes on time. After class and surrounded by the crowds of students walking to their next class I realized how much I hoped to recognize someone to stop and say “Hi, how was your summer?” In the sea of strangers, I felt almost like a freshman on their first day of college instead of a senior.
With every start of every semester comes the renewed notion of being successful and meeting goals. My goal for every semester was not only to get good grades but to make new friends. I’d challenge myself and say “I have to have a conversation with a stranger today” or try to join a social club on campus.
Walking through the sea of people I realized once again that I had the renewed hope of meeting new people and making new friends or at the very least, acquaintances. With this thought I no longer felt lost but instead a determination to complete my goals and finish my degree.
Everyone always says you’ll finish college in 4 years and it can sometimes be frowned upon if you take longer to get a diploma. But keep in mind, it is not the length of time that matters but the fact that you completed the goal that you set out to do.
Just coming back every year to finish is an accomplishment in its own right because it is so easy to quit; But harder to keep pushing to reach your full potential.
Just keep your head up, smile, and make conversation because you too will walk across the stage, grab your diploma, feel a sense of pride in reaching your goal, and maybe be waving at your new friends in the crowd.
