There’s something about the last two weeks of college before summer that feels different. It’s like everything is happening at once: finals, Hollybash, wanting to hang out every night, and somehow you’re exhausted but also not trying to miss a single thing. It’s chaotic in the best and worst way. For me this is when I really feel the ‘you only live once’ energy. 

Not in a “fail your classes and disappear” way, but in a “be where your feet are” kind of way. Because these last two weeks aren’t just another stretch of the semester. They’re kind of their own thing. There’s this weird mix of pressure and nostalgia, even if you don’t fully realize it yet.

Your GPA matters. Your deadlines matter. You should absolutely be turning things in and not completely ruining your life over one night out. But at the same time, you didn’t go through a whole semester just to spend the final stretch locked in your room, half-paying attention to assignments you’ve already overthought three times.

Handle your work early. I cannot stress this enough and it is something I really struggle with. If you know you have a paper due Friday, don’t be the person starting it at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday when everyone else is out doing something fun. Do things during the day, even if it’s boring. Sit in Business Hall, lock in for a few hours, and get it done. You will be so grateful when you can say yes to spontaneous plans without that pit in your stomach.

Because saying yes is kind of the whole point right now.

If your friends want to go get late-night food, go. If someone texts “are we going out?” at 10 p.m. and you’re already in sweats, go. These are the moments that end up sticking, not the nights where you plan everything out, it’s the nights where you don’t know what the next five minutes hold for you. 

And it’s not even always about going out. Sometimes it’s the random, low-key stuff that hits the most. Sitting outside for no reason, talking about nothing and everything. Deciding in the middle of the deli to go to Cape May for the sunset. Those are the moments that feel small now but end up being the ones you miss later.

The biggest thing, though, is the people.

This is the part no one really prepares you for. These last couple weeks are full of quiet “lasts” that don’t announce themselves. The last time everyone’s free on the same night. The last random weekday plans. The last time you can just text “come over” and someone’s there in five minutes.

So be present for that. Not half on your phone, half in the conversation. Stay a little longer. Laugh a little harder. Take the picture, but don’t live through it. You’re going to want to remember how this felt, not just what it looked like.

It’s easy to get caught up in everything that’s happening right now and forget that you actually made it through a whole semester. That counts for something. Even if it didn’t go perfectly, even if you had moments where you felt off or overwhelmed, you’re still here, finishing it out.

You only live once these last two weeks and do it in a way that you won’t regret. Show up for your life a little more than usual. Be responsible enough to finish strong, but irresponsible in a way you can never be again after this time in your life.

Right now, everything is right there in front of you. Go to class and take your finals but after that, go be a little spontaneous, a little sentimental, a little more open than usual. This is the kind of the times you remember.