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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Completing my first last day of school was scary. When I woke up in the morning, I ensured I timed my walk to class, prayed the textbook wasn’t mandatory and searched for familiar faces. It felt like my first time in a classroom even though it was the last time I had to experience the gut-wrenching feeling associated with the first day of school.

It hit me after I went through the routine of the day — I would never have to do it again. It was the last time I would have to map out which route to take, the last time I would have to decide where to sit and the last time I’d have to listen to a teacher read verbatim the syllabus out loud while everyone stares at the clock hoping to be released early.

As I finished my school day and prepared for the obligatory Monday night at midtown celebration, I realized it was the last time I would be celebrating the end of a successful first school day.

As syllabus week, also known as drop/add week, came to a close, I had participated in quite a few first lasts. In addition to the class part, I had attended my last first sorority chapter meeting and my last first SEC basketball opening game as a student.

The emotions the last first week brought were mixed. I was excited to begin a new semester, relieved it was quick and painless, yet wistful it was the beginning of the end. School is what is familiar. Forget the past three years of just college, but since kindergarten, the routine of school has been the norm. It is what we have known. Recognizing the last part of this chapter of life is being written now calls for a live in the moment mentality for the next few months.

For the rest of the lasts to come, all seniors should value the memories, friends and time they have left.

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