I am horrified at the thought of having to leave Furman in two weeks. Plagued with senioritis and a solid disdain against the outside world, everything I do seems an act of rebellion towards my eminent departure from North Village. But that hasn’t kept me from indulging in a collection of undeserved self-reward. For example, I am writing this in my apartment, procrastinating on an immersion journalism editing section, while breaking from an exciting round of Pikmin 2 on the Nintendo Wii. I’m downing a Caribbean mixed drink known as a “painkiller” that consists of pineapple juice, coconut milk, and half a bottle of Parrot Bay Rum. It is two o’clock in the afternoon.
While I’m not roaring drunk by any means and I still have enough self-motivation to hold a solid 3.0 for the semester, I’ve been struck with the realization that my college career is rapidly coming to a violent halt. Sure, it’s been filled with learning, self discovery (or self-un-discovery if you consider all the things I now wish I would have majored in), and a constant stream of wisdom I often fail to remember. But in these last glimmering moments, all I really care about is the fun I’ve had here.
As a college graduate who majored in Communications and English, and with no solid future plans and no ticket to grad school, I beg you to take my advice with a grain of salt (preferably around the rim of a margarita). But what I’ve come to realize is that the linguistic stylings of F. Scott Fitzgerald or Facebook’s role in Peru are a whole lot more forgettable than rambunctious outings or late nights with video games and friends. I don’t think I’ll ever regret giving up studying for half an hour in place of seeing my friend’s recital the night before a midterm.
I may not have prioritized fun for the right things, but I’ve come to realize that, as important as grades and classes are, they’re not going to be what you remember. While the quadratic formula and the anatomy of a koala will help you pass the GRE and secure your future, they won’t give you the same friendships and emotional ties as those 2 a.m. Cookout runs with your roomies where you drive down Poinsett blasting 80s hits and singing at the top of your lungs. School is definitely one of the most important things to work at, but as my parting word of wisdom, I just ask you to remember that life will always be about more than securing a future. It’s about community, passion, and love, all of which are essential to the collegiate experience. Now go have some fun. Good night and good luck. I know I’ll need it in the job hunt after all this slacking.