Time flies when you're having fun

The fact that it’s already April 1st is an April Fool’s joke of its own. It's officially the last full month of senior year and all that comes with it. Countless people told me senior year, and college in general would fly by. And man were they right.

I think many of my classmates and friends can relate to the bittersweet feeling when we think of graduation. Somedays I wake up and I feel so excited for post-grad life and a new challenge ahead of me. On other days, I am filled with a lot of sadness for all the changes, endings and goodbyes. For the first time in most of our lives, we aren’t sure what comes next. We’ve been so accustomed to the routine of school and always knowing what our next steps would look like. But now, these next steps are unknown and scary, and everyone looks so different – it’s a weird feeling. It feels almost impossible not to compare plans with each other. Who has a job and who doesn’t? Who got into grad school and who’s taking a gap year? What city is everyone moving to? It’s a bit overwhelming. Constantly reminding myself that we’re all on our own path and that comparison really is the thief of joy.

I’m excited and I feel ready for what comes after college. But at the same time, I’m holding on tight to what time we have left in our Chapel Hill bubble, caught between being ready to move on and never wanting these days to end. But how lucky am I to go to a school and be surrounded by people who make the thought of leaving so hard? Pretty lucky if you ask me.

On the plane ride back to Chapel Hill after Easter weekend yesterday, the woman next to me asked me where I went to school. When I told her UNC, her face lit up and she said “Oh, you must just love it, Chapel Hill is the best!” I couldn’t agree with her more. UNC is a special place and I’m so glad I get to be a Tar Heel forever.