Graduation Apprehension

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If you’re a senior, you’ve probably hit that post-spring break, pre-finals stage of “oh fuck, this is really it”. It’s the time that most of us never actually thought would come (i.e. college graduation), and the spike in panic is climbing, like SU’s COVID-19 cases. And, like the coronavirus, the graduation apprehension has spread across most of the senior class. With the stress of the future so heavy, many forget to enjoy the present and take advantage of the weeks they have left. 

If you have a job set up post-grad (yeah, looking at all those Whitman peers) or have gotten into graduate school, congrats! And screw you. For many graduating seniors, the future is much less clear. Many are continuing to look for a job or are just starting. If you don’t know where to begin, LinkedIn is a great choice, and SU partners with Handshake, a career management service free for students to find careers, jobs, and network with alumni and professionals. Not to mention SU and all of its colleges have a career services center for students to use to help them. 

But even with all these resources, some soon-to-be grads still feel lost. The societal standard is that after you get a college degree, you are supposed to know what you want to do and have a clear-cut plan on how to achieve it. In reality, many don’t have the privileges or opportunities to walk this very narrow path, nor does every student want to walk it. No matter what you want, a new chapter in life is not easy. Some of us are moving to a new location with new roommates and new responsibilities, and that shit is terrifying. Some of us are heading home to save up and live with our parents again, and that’s also terrifying. And these feelings foster a shared sense of nostalgia for the early days of college when the biggest choice was where to go out on a Thursday night. 

So before time runs out, take advantage of spending time with all of your friends, and make the most of the least. We suggest alcohol. Get your asses to Lucy’s, and share memories (or lack of memories) over some drinks and a slice of pizza. Or, maybe you're a bigger fan of Faegans and have a soft spot for Flip and darts. Or maybe try one of Syracuse’s downtown bars for a night. Also, take advantage of all the campus opportunities, like speakers, events, and shows, that are only offered to SU students. (When else other than Block Party are you going to watch a concert front row in a 50,000-seat arena for less than $30?) And for those of us who are burnt out from four years of way too many extracurriculars and exams, skip that class, go to the frat you have yet to experience, hit up your hook-up buddy one last time.

Whatever it is, just take the risk. You won’t be able to for much longer. Cheers to the Class of ‘22!