I just finished my senior year and loved (almost) every second of it. Althought there were some speed bumps along the way, I wouldn't have changed anything for a second.

 

Although your senior year will not be perfect — nothing ever is — here are some tips to make it the best year that you can.

 

As hard as it is to look at the big picture when you're knee deep in a stressful situation, you need to sit back for a second and think about what's really important. Is the fact that you got a C+ on a test really going to affect the outcome of your life? Probably not. Are you never going to find someone just because one guy is being a jerk? Heck no. Your whole life is ahead of you. While it's easy to get caught up in the college bubble, keep in mind that it doesn't last forever.

 

Fill in the blank with whatever you're debating on doing. Of course, there are reasonable limits to this — you don't want to go into debt or get caught up in something illegal — but live your life. You could miss out on one of the best nights of your life just because you wanted to get to bed early. You can sleep when you're dead. If you're wondering whether or not you should take a trip or spend money on something, here's a rule of thumb: If it's in your budget, and you really want to do it, then go after it. What do you have to lose?

 

This is one of the last years you have before your metabolism starts to slow down. Yes, it is important to eat healthy and to exercise, but don't let that take precedence over you enjoying your year. Once you're out in the real world you won't have time for late-night pizza runs or dollar beer nights. Focus on having fun and stop frantically counting your calories.

 

Just because you've found a tight-knit group of girlfriends doesn't mean you have to confine yourself solely to that group. Continue to reach out and make even more friends. You still can join a new club and hang out with new people even if you're a senior. I found some of my closest friends my senior year. Just because you have a good circle of friends, doesn't mean you have to always stick to that group. You can never have enough friends!

 

The earlier you start your job search, the less stressed out you'll be later in the year. Once the last few weeks of the semester hit, all you'll care about is spending time with your friends and kicking back. You will not want to be worrying about finding a job. The earlier you can find a job, the better. Start reaching out to your contacts at the beginning of your last semester. See if they have positions available or know where you should start to look. Any advice you can get from people you actually know is going to be so much more helpful than just blindly sending out hundreds of resumes on the Internet.

 

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