Flashback Friday: Fourth year of college
I am doing a series flashing back to each year of college as I am wrapping up my undergraduate degree next week! Read about my first year of college, second year of college and third year of college to catch up!
Fun fact: We don’t call it Freshmen, Junior, Sophomore and Senior year in Canada!! (I don’t even know if that is the right order! LOL)
******************************
Considering I finished up my last week of classes of my undergraduate degree yesterday, it seemed only fitting that I do the wrap-up of my fourth year of college today.
What a whirlwind it’s been, and you guys have been with me every step of the way.
I don’t think it’s a huge secret that I haven’t exactly been happy with my final year of school. I’ve been dealing with some serious cases of Senioritis and towards the end, I literally would stop caring and started hating my life on days that I had to go to school. I think this was partially due to the program I’m enrolled in and the fact that I’m taking a different career path then originally intended and I also think it was due to the fact that I went to college straight out of high school.
I’ve been going to school full-time for 17 years. I’m ready for a break.
Anyways, my fourth year of college hasn’t been all bad, despite my grumbling posts.
It started with a bang on my 21st birthday, where I got far too drunk for my own good.
The first two months of my final semester I was balancing two part-time jobs, a full course load and finishing up the training for my third half-marathon, which I ran in October.
I spent a lot of time with my girlfriends, which was refreshing and fun as always.
Despite all of my complaining about school over the last few weeks, our Journalism end-of-the-year party on Wednesday was a very bittersweet event for me as it reminded me of the one thing I will miss the most about University.
The people I have met.
This is pretty much the entire group of people that I have gone to school with for the last two years:
On Monday I have my last final exam and on Thursday I hand in one more paper and then I am done.
While I am SO ready for the next step/phase in my life, it’s also bittersweet that this part of my life is coming to a close. I know I will miss it.
Tell me about your final year of college? Did you experience Senioritis like I did? Did you find it bittersweet when it all ended? What do you miss the most? I am 100% sure it will be the people!
Awe Amber! Your post made me tear up. After all we’ve been through this year I thought I would be pumped to be finally finished! But as everyone parts ways I know it will never be the same and I’m so sad! I never really thought about it until now that we’re not going to have another class with all those people or walk into the lab to those familiar faces! The best part of school for me was 100% the people & I would sacrifice another year of hating teachers & keeners just so I could spend more time with you girls! Xo
Awe Amber! Your post made me tear up. After all we’ve been through this year I thought I would be pumped to be finally finished! But as everyone parts ways I know it will never be the same and I’m so sad! I never really thought about it until now that we’re not going to have another class with all those people or walk into the lab & see those familiar faces! The best part of school for me was 100% the people & I would sacrifice another year of hating teachers & keeners just so I could spend more time with you girls! Xo
Wow, congrats on finishing college! It is quite an accomplishment. I definitely know what you mean about being ready to be done. I was definitely ready my “senior” year and while there are times when I definitely miss it, I am mostly happy to be where I’m at right now.
Ahh I can’t believe you’re graduating! I have one year left and I’m scared! haha even though, like you, I know I’m ready to move on from school. Enjoy your last few days and good luck with the paper! I think I’m going to miss the flexible schedule most, and my friends of course : )
I *think* ?? its Freshman, Sophmore, Junior, Senior.
And I’m done college in a very, very short 2 weeks. YIKES. (I have the WORST case of senioritis.)
But then I’m off to University for another 3 years, sooooooo. the cycle starts again?
Haha, it’s freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior.
I love that you’ve done these recaps – and in 10 years you’ll be able to look back on this blog and look at things you may have forgotten! I miss the people, but even more so I miss the freedom of just being able to sit down and talk to them all night, because we didn’t have classes until 2 o’clock the next day (or something along those lines).
Awwww congratulations on graduating!! Despite the Senioritis it looks like you had a lot of fun with some wonderful people
Good luck with your final exams!
yep it’s freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. In college, we didn’t say that — only in high school. in college, it was hard because not everyone goes for just 4 years. we usually said what year we were in.
my 4th year was awesome as well as ROUGH! The summer prior i discovered i had Usher’s – so needless to say I was going through sooo many downs. It was also literally days after my nephew was born, because of him I’m still here (sad to say!). I baby sat him most fridays for my 4th year. i was also an RA – so i got to meet a lot of fun first years. I’m still friends with a few of them nowadays.
I had also pulled away from my core group of friends, and proceeded to hang out with 3 other people, needless to say, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays were loaded with drinking and partying hardcore! but i don’t regret it at all!!!
Congratulations on finishing your classes! For me, what I miss is 110% the people. My senior year of college was the most defining year for me. After graduation it was weird not living just across the hall or in the room directly beneath my best friends and not seeing them for hours every day. I have so many special memories from my senior year. When I think of college I just automatically flash back to that last year. My friends and I went through a lot together that year above and beyond the normal college stuff.
When I was in college, we called people who took more than 4 years to graduate “5th year Seniors” or “6th year Seniors” Sometimes people called them Super Seniors!
What do you call them in Canada?
LOL. We don’t really say anything – people will ask what “year” you’re in and you’ll say “I’m a third year student.” Even if it’s someone’s fifth year in college but they’re only in their second year of the specific program they’re in, they’ll say “I’m a second year student”.
If that makes sense!
Awww! I know the feeling of wanting to be done, but like you said, you’ll definitely miss your friends. And when you get a job, and are working full time… you’ll definitely miss this time just a little bit!!!!
Congrats on being done with your last week!
I totally had my moments where I thought “oh this is the last time I’m going to have class here” and “this is the last time I’m doing this” etc etc. Four years of one place is a huge part of your life- and it’s good to look back and enjoy some of it (no matter how ready you are to get out!).
Enjoy the weekend!
You almost got it right – it’s Freshman/Sophomore/Junior/Senior. I think the US is the only country that uses those terms for the years of school!
My senior year was awesome. I definitely had seniorities. My spring semester, I went out quite a bit and had an absolutely blast with my girlfriends. I wasn’t sure how my senior year was going to go because I had just come back from a semester in Australia and I felt kind of out of the loop on what was going on in my friends life. It worked itself out, though. Thank God.
These last few weeks are so bittersweet. It’s so exciting to move onto the next stage, but also sad when people start moving away.
By the way, love the dress you wore to the party. You look fabulous!!
What a fabulous batch of freshly-pressed Journos!
I found it rather weird knowing that I was done school forever. It was a lot of hard work and stress and in the end, I think I started to suffer from Senioritis. I definitely had that “I don’t care, I just want to be done!” mentality!
I think I miss seeing everyone all in one place the most. There were a lot of good times when we all got together!
My last year was really more of a semester! I finished early… something I’m not sure I would repeat to this day if I had the opportunity to go back. I turned 21. Adopted a dog. Felt like an adult. Was in love with my college boyfriend. I missed (and still do) classes, taking notes, being organized, highlighting things, meeting new people, new perspectives on learning, life, the way things are.
I’m so proud of you for all that you’ve done! Can’t wait to hear about the next big adventures that are in store for you
I never experienced Senioritis in college. I graduated a semester early because I’m an over achiever and always took heavy course loads, so I was leaving all my friends a semester early and starting out in the real world before them. It was scary and sad and I cried a lot. Part of me is so happy I graduated early, but part of me really thinks I missed out on an easy semester of not caring about school and spending time with my friends.
Aw, it looks like you had a great year!
That’s funny that you don’t call it freshman, soph, jr, sr years. Interesting. It was a bittersweet ending for me. Senior year was so busy and stressful physically and emotionally that I was pretty done with it by June. Many of my friends already had jobs or internships lined up while I didn’t even have time to think about the real world until after graduation. I took about 6-8 weeks off just hanging out at my grandparents summer cabin with them before starting the job hunt. It was a MUCH needed break.
I had mono most of my last year and I still somehow managed to graduate … I still haven’t quite figured that one out, since I barely went to any classes, but oh well! I don’t miss the school or university life at all, but I do miss the people. My friends from those days are all over the globe now so even when I do go home to visit, it’s not the same …
My senior year was the best year for me while I was in university. I had roommates that were fun and weren’t crazy, and we went out a lot. It was also a very busy and sad time because right after I was done with all of my exams, I packed up my life and moved across a few provinces to be with my now fiance. It was sad to be leaving university, my friends and family all at the same time!
My last year of college I only had one class a semester (long story). The first semester I was going to class three days a week, working a part time job one day a week and a full time job. I had one day a week that I had totally off though so it was manageable. The second semester I was going in twice a week for class and had quit the part time job. I really enjoyed that class too (psychology of addictions) so I didn’t slack off.
The last full time semester though, that was tough. I had a full course load, and was working two part time jobs. I was stressed out from school. Work (trying to get hours at the one part time job was difficult) and my best friend was stationed in the middle east (Kuwait). I actually ended up in the ER one night after I passed out at home twice, caused my parents to miss going to a wedding for one of my cousins.
yay! so proud of you! i was ready to graduate when graduation came.. i had been working for a semester full-time with no pay and i was TIRED, POOR and ready to be done ha. thank you student teaching. my last semester of classes i had 20 credits and yeah, it was a bit rough but i had classes with all of my friends and we made it fun. i miss haging out inc lasses, doing field work together and hanging out in our computer lab finishing uplast minute assignments oh and goign to the bar whatever night we felt like cuz we were in college and we could.
we had a standing date at an applebees every thursday all of my first senior year of college.
Aw I love all these fun pictures! I definitely think the only major thing I miss about college is the people. My friend and I decided we are going to skype during american idol soince we miss watching it together! Congrats on making it through Amber!
In my first degree I did not have senioritis … but with my second degree I totally did!
I had no idea Canada didn’t use the whole freshmen, sophomore expressions. It makes me wonder where exactly they come from.
awww…this post makes me sad! I hope you know that despite the fact I don’t do goodbyes that I will miss you! I have faith that we will see each other again, and we will def stay in touch. x0x0
Wow, your class was really small! We had about 35 (that was us doing the bachelor’s) alongside about 30 post-grad students doing the diploma of journalism.
Now it’s all over and you can look forward to a new chapter in your life!
Congratulations on being almost done!
I was one of those “5th year seniors” someone above mentioned (transferring schools across the country and then changing majors will do that). Still, almost as soon as I graduated, my then boyfriend was leaving for Iraq, so I was in a weird position of wanting time to stand still. I think that’s why I jumped straight into my masters at the same school. Which I later dropped out of…delayed senioritis?
Anyways…what I miss most is definitely the people and having so many people to hang out with all the time. My school was very heavy on traditions and spirit and I miss that atmosphere too. I actually visited the campus on New Year’s Day when I was in town this year. I walked around by myself and it was pretty dead since it was a holiday, but I got all teary wandering around and letting all the memories come back. I think we all do so much growing up in the college years and they hold a lot of bittersweet memories for all of us.
yep, it’s the people! I miss college every so often. but I don’t miss going to class, taking tests, writing papers, etc etc. I miss my roommates, my classmates, my sorority sisters, my Graphites (that’s what we called us writers/editors for The Graphic). I miss having someone to go to the Caf with for lunch, someone to make nacho runs with at 11:59 p.m. haha. it’s hard to keep in touch after graduation, after everyone goes their separate ways, to other cities, other states… though facebook makes it a bit easier
but yes, it’s the people who make the experience that makes college. it was bittersweet to see it end for me too, I think it is for everyone.
but congrats on making it and for being almost done! it’s an exciting time!
and I love your fun fact by the way! totally didn’t know that. sorry if my comments ever confused you!
I was in shock a few days ago when I realized I have been in UNIVERSITY for 5 years now… Crazy!!! I remember 1st year like it was yesterday (well, except for a few nights haha!)
I really enjoyed those flashback posts btw!