Sitting here procrastinating from all the work I have coming up within these next few weeks, I started thinking to myself, “Wow, after this paper and these four finals, I’ll be a senior.” Seriously though. A senior? Where did that come from? I was just a freshman like yesterday, except I wasn’t really. Freshman year may seem like it was just yesterday but it was almost three years ago.
I think about what I expected college was going to be like. I’d study every day, get a 4.0, join every club, become president of my building, tailgate, and meet the guy I was going to marry. Well, none of that happened. Granted those expectations were slightly unrealistic, college for me went in a direction I never thought it would. That is not to say that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed it so far because I have, just not all the time.
As my senior status is quickly approaching, I’ve realized that there are so many things I want to do here at Binghamton that I haven’t done yet. I guess you could call it my Binghamton bucket list.
See the parade at Parade Day. Yes, we’ve all been to Parade Day and I’m a little embarrassed to say that even though I’m a junior, this year marked my first Parade Day experience. Quite honestly it was the most exhausting thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. I guess day drinking isn’t for everyone. But I think we get too wrapped up in that partying aspect of it and forget that there’s a parade actually happening. You know the bagpipers, Irish step dancers, the whole shebang. Maybe it’s the little girl inside of me that still loves these types of things. So next year, I won’t just take a peek at the parade happening outside my downtown apartment but I vow to actually go outside and appreciate the celebrations happening around me.
Walk through the Nature Preserve. Again, please don’t hate me for not doing this yet! The only time I’ve actually been to the Nature Preserve was during my “I want to be a doctor” days when I had to take Bio 117 and honestly, I kind of hated it. I couldn’t really appreciate the nature because I was a miserable first-semester freshman in pursuit of a major I despised and on top of that was being forced to follow around bees for hours and see which plants they landed on to pollinate. Oh, and I’m allergic to pollen. Win. I dreaded those days at the Nature Preserve but being older and wiser now, I realized that the Nature Preserve is one of the most amazing features of Binghamton. At 182 acres of land, it’s a beautiful scenery that I cannot wait to see up close and personal.
Pull an all-nighter in the library. I’m going to be honest, this probably isn’t something I’ll ever get around to actually doing but in my head, it sounds really intense. Sitting in a quiet and dark library staring at a computer screen, down to your last few sips of coffee, messy hair, smeared make-up, just a few more hundred words to go. Ok so maybe it’s a good thing I haven’t had to do this yet but for those of you that have, you go Glen Coco! (Or whatever your name really is.)
Audition for Binghamton’s Got Talent. If you got it, flaunt it. I’ve been to this event a few times and I’m always amazed at the courage people have to get up in front of a pretty big group of people and just show them what you’ve got. Since elementary school, I’ve always been in choir because I love singing but once I got to college, I was intimidated and I chickened out. I really regret not being a part of any musical group on campus and I think I missed out on a great opportunity. But alas, there’s still Binghamton’s Got Talent. I’m hoping that by senior year I will have gained the confidence and fought off my stage fright to do what I love to do in front of people and not just my mirror or in the cab heading home from downtown.
Go to a sporting event. I’ve never been to a basketball, baseball, soccer, or any sport game for that matter while at school. I guess I wasn’t bit by the bug that makes me want to paint my face white and green and scream “GO BEARCATS!” at complete strangers. But what kind of Binghamton student would I be if I never once attended any games? Not a very good one. Though I have had several encounters with Baxter the Bearcat at Appalachian and the Union, I hope the next time we meet will be outside on a field cheering on one of our teams.
Strike up a conversation with Rasa von Werder. You know Rasa. If you don’t know Rasa then you must not be from around here. Everyone knows Rasa. That lovely definitely older than middle-aged woman most often seen downtown at Scoreboard or Tom & Marty’s living it up like it’s 1999. Sure, I’ve seen her out and watched her grind up on intoxicated young men and women but I’ve never actually exchanged words with this woman and that just doesn’t seem right. So next time I’m downtown, I won’t ask for a picture or a dance with her but maybe I’ll ask her if she’s having a good time and get to know her a little.
Start a flash mob. This is like my ultimate goal of life and it would be oh so perfect to get it done while I’m still in college. Think about it. How cool would a campus-wide dancing and singing performance be? The absolute coolest. I’m thinking something a little less “Stick to the Status Quo” High School Musical and more “Barbra Streisand” ala Glee. It will be epic. I tweeted about this the other day and got a reply from my friend Emily who’s totally in so that’s two people. We need like 2000. Maybe I’ll settle for 200. If you’d like to be a part of my super cool flash mob, follow me on twitter @raverivera or shoot me an email ravenrivera@hercampus.com. Nothing like some shameless, sneaky (not so sneaky) self-promoting.
I’m still in denial that I will be a senior in just a few weeks. May 2012 is only but a year away. So senior year, I’m ready for you. Maybe some of the things on my bucket list are also on yours or maybe you’re way more awesome than I am and have already done all of these things and so much more. Either way, while you’re in college, don’t take it for granted. To my fellow 2012 graduating class, let’s do it big.