The only thing that’s more anxiety-ridden than freshman year is definitely senior year. Most of us are wrapping up our credits, trying to fit in another internship or two, and figuring out what’s next in our lives. That’s a lot of thinking, planning and worrying we have to do. Therefore, feeling stressed out and overwhelmed are normal emotions – but they don’t have to be.

It’s important to remember to plan your final year schedule ahead to avoid any graduation delays. This means meeting with your advisor not once, but twice, to make sure you’re on track with requirements. And in the event that you’re not, you have a year to get back to the place you want to be and avoid major freak outs.

With that being said, don’t feel the need to jam-pack your schedule with 3 years worth of classes, events, and activities you wish you did earlier. Instead, pick some favorites, stick to them and make sure you pencil in time to debrief your week and relax. You’ve already got a lot on your plate and you don’t need the added stress of trying to be a senior year all-star. Everyone’s journey is different and you need to remember to enjoy yours to the fullest at your own pace (no pun intended).

With senior year, comes great responsibility. Just because you’re in your final year, doesn’t mean you can slack with your grades. They are just as important during senior year as they are in freshman year (and sophomore and junior year). Keep up with your work. If not for the sake of your GPA, then for the sake of the recommendation letter requests you’re bound to send out in a few months time. Staying up to date with your work and duties as a student will save you a whole lot of worrying, last minute cramming, and straight up anxiety. Do yourself that favor.

Most seniors are bound to ask the following infamous question before they graduate: “is this really what I want to do for the rest of my life?” Or in some cases, “I still don’t know what to do with my life. Now what?” And I want you to know that you should take a chill pill and understand that 90% of seniors are going through the same thing. I absolutely made up that statistic but it’s not far from the truth. Ask any senior around you and you’re bound to realize that you’re all in the same boat. Go with the flow, but don’t forget to do your part, too. That means whether or not you like it, you’re about to leave the undergrad life for good. So brush up on your resume skills, get those interviews out of the way, and see where the universe takes you one step at a time.

Support systems are also crucial during this time. We all have them – whether it’s our parents, a friend, a sibling, mentor, a professor we confide in etc., they’re there and ready to extend a helping hand. So take advantage of this and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Bottling up emotions will not help your anxiety or stress – so be sure to battle those emotions as soon as you can. And if you feel like your support system is close to nonexistent – you can always reach out to the counseling center here at Pace – where everything is confidential and super helpful. Happy senior year-ing and good luck, Setters!