Fifth Year Senior

Hi, my name is Megan, and I’m a fifth year senior. Throughout the past four years of college experience, I think more than the credits, I’ve learned the more practical aspects of being on my own in the big city in the big college.

• I’ve realized that just parking a few blocks away from class is not that big of a deal, plus you save about $70 on a permit and get some exercise in during the day.
• You don’t need to spend all of your graduation money on pizza.
• Date as many boys as you can the first three years of college. You will NOT regret it when you finally find a decent guy and can look back at all the experiences you had and see which one is really the best.
• Take chances. If there’s a study abroad, exchange program, or semester at sea– DO IT. Do everything in your power to take a chance and try something new. You have four years (or in my case, five) to be in college. Do something cool while you’re there.
• It’s okay to wait till you’re 21 to drink. I avoided the freshman fifteen and numerous legal infractions because of it. You can still have a heck of a good time at parties making fun of drunks and being happy you’re not one of them.

Oh, and so much more… but entering into my fifth year of college today, I fried my brain on more serious issues, like when I am going to graduate and trying to get into internships next spring. At least I figured out I oficially graduate on May 14, 2004 at 2 PM! Woooooo! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, finally.

Now, things creep into my mind about my future with Nathan. He talked yesterday about buying another farm. This one was only three minutes from my parents. Yikes. I am not sure how serious he was about it, but I couldn’t imagine visiting my boyfriend for weekends where my mother could literally look out the kitchen window and see my car parked there! But this farm is beautiful. I heard in his voice last night something different than I usually did.

“Megan, it’s a really big old house with an attic and it needs a lot of fixing up, but it’s just what you love. Remember?”

I had told him once my love for old houses that you can remodel and make your own. How I loved the creek of old wood floors and the scent of a hundred year farmhouse with big trees and lilac bushes around the porch. This was one of those houses. But how did that fit in with my future? What if I got a job offer in the cities? What if next summer my internship was in another state? What if my professional life…

…leads me away from him?

It breaks my heart to think about that, so I try not to. I figure everything will fall into place if it’s meant to be, but I am also the kind of person who never wants to let chances go. I have a lot of figuring out to do this year, but so far, I am concentrating on now and what I need to do for school and a job. I can’t imagine having to make the choice between the man I love and the career of a lifetime. I pray it doesn’t come down to that. But I’m afraid that it might. Until then, I am going to be optimistic, work hard, and try to get my own life in order. Of course Nathan is a part of my life and I love him very much. I miss him now more than ever because he is so close to me (only two hours, now) but it is still difficult to see him because of our conflicting schedules. I just wish I could take a five minute drive and be with him. But it’s not like that, and it won’t be for a very long time.

And so, this fifth year senior must face her future, because it’s so close now. She’s bought her books, she’s done with all her liberal requirements, and the only thing left is to finish up these last measly credits and then get on with her life…