This year is going to be different.
Instead of making plans to spend the summer poolside with friends, or working at a summer job, it is time need to find an internship, graduate and prepare to begin your career.
For many other seniors, this is also the last year they will go to school and experience the flexible schedule it allows.
That said, take full advantage of that flexibility.
I'm not saying you should rampantly skip class to binge-watch Netflix, but it is a lot easier to plug gaps of free time into your day as a student.
Use that free time wisely. Go exploring, check out that off-the-beaten-path spot you've been passing by the past three years.
Get out of Auburn, and explore as far as you want to reach.
My roommates and I do outdoor activities together. This is a great, cost-effective way to bond, while also exercising.
There are plenty of places to explore the great outdoors. Any of the state parks scattered throughout Alabama offer different activities, from hiking, biking and camping to swimming and water sports. Chewacla has 696 acres to explore, and is a short drive from campus. If you're willing to drive farther, Tuskegee National Forest has many activities, such as camping, fishing and a shooting range, or you could explore the Chattahoochee River.
If the comforts of the Plains are your calling, take advantage of every activity on campus. Find an organization you are passionate about and throw yourself into it. Savor the last year you're spending with a group you have been a part of since your freshman year, or find something new that intrigues you.
Embrace the traditions that make Auburn a place many remember fondly. Roll Toomer's Corner. Hopefully I will see you there after several Auburn football wins.
As the freshmen move onto campus, take a moment to reflect on your time at Auburn. Hopefully, you have learned more than just lessons in a classroom. Hopefully, you have learned independence and important skills such as time management and how to interact in a professional setting, as well as found a career path you are passionate about.
However, senior year is not all fun and games.
Senior classes are more difficult and require care and attention. Often, they entail rigorous, intense semester-long projects. The job search can also be tough, and it is best to use any contacts you have in your field and start looking early. Simply finding a job is not the only thing you have to worry about. Logistics, such as finding a place to live and finding health care in a new area also take time and research.
If you spread that work out, however, there will be ample time for fun this year.
Plan ahead, or be spontaneous, but make senior year memories to last a lifetime.
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