Classes, People, among other things.

First day of classes. Some people view it as a blow-off day, to really just go to classes to see which of their friends are in which classes, and how they're going to have "soooo much fun" in [insert generic class name]. Other people view it as a time to shop for classes, which ones are worthwhile and which ones, not so much. Finally, there's me, sitting through the 3 hardest classes of my fall schedule, with an interesting sense of apathy. What I have realized, is that I no longer look towards classes with great anticipation. Rather, I start calculating exactly how much time I will need to invest into each class, and pull away with a grade that is acceptable to no longer just my own (albeit declining) personal standards, but also the expectations from those medical schools looming in the background, waiting to see what [insert AMCAS ID#] exactly is going to do in his final year in college.

That being said, I resolved that I was to finish strong in college, and follow the trend of how my grades went in high school (Note: starting strong in freshman year, caring progressively less through until junior year, and then finishing spectacularly senior year), which means I will be committing more time to the books, all the while juggling the ridiculous amounts of things and people I need/want to do and see (respectively, don't be silly and/or ridiculous). The realization that I am now a senior, a 4th year old fogie, probably hit me when I walked through the campus. I saw the anxious little freshmen running here and there, clearly not quite accustomed to the infamous "7 minute rule." I look at them, and then to how I now walk to class, alone or with friends, and we've clearly slowed down in our "old age."

This last year has presented itself as the opportunity to not only buckle down and leave with a long-lasting good impression of the school and education received, but also to really reinforce the relationships that I've built over the past 3 years. Along with spending more time with the academic texts, I find myself constantly rearranging my schedule so that I may squeeze in just one more meeting with people. It is definitely not a bad thing to invest in people, and frankly, that's the most I'm going to get out of college. Not this B.A. in Biochemistry or Anthropology. Rather, the friendships that will continue, after we toss our hats into the air, and shake hands and hug each other knowing that another phase of our life has been completed, will be what makes all the money (that I personally believe this school is wasting on flowers and unnecessary buildings) I've paid worth it.

Cheers to and prayers for a great senior year, and to the continued commitment to investing in people. Fellow seniors, let's take this last year and rock it loud. Real loud.