Second semester senior stress?
Is this actually happening? It’s always been ingrained into my head that second semester seniors and stress went together like Georgetown men’s basketball and the NCAA Tournament.
Seniors told me last year that no one studies second semester, no one worries, no one stresses and everyone just kicks back with a beer or 10, ticking off the days until graduation. My friends last November said that once the new year hit, things would be different?no more worrying about studying and grades, more going out and, in general, just having more fun. “Just wait till next semester,” they said longingly. “Then senior year will finally start getting fun.”
But things don’t seem to be any different. Many are still worried about law school applications, grad school applications and job applications. This isn’t a bad thing?it’s completely natural to be worried about our future
But what I’ve noticed is this general sense of pessimism about next year. People seem to be really sad about leaving because they assume that whatever they’ll be doing next year, it won’t be as fun as college. Some think they won’t be accepted into jobs or law schools. OK, so the economy sucks, but it sucks for everyone. You don’t hear people saying, “Hey guys, I’ve found this loophole in the market where everyone’s getting jobs. Come check it out.”
Even some going to law school or who would like to go?though they’ve admirably pushed themselves throughout the process?don’t seem really excited about it. They see it as something they feel like they need to do, not something they want to do. Others don’t really want to spend three more years inside a classroom but would rather have something permanent that immunizes them from the uncertainties of today’s economy?the “it beats the hell out of working” argument.
Case in point: I’ve applied to law schools, and upon hearing this people don’t tend to ask me questions such as “What kind of law do you want to study?” or “Where’s your first choice?” Rather, they ask questions such as “What are you going to do if you don’t get in?” which already frames the question in a negative light.
But that’s not all: I’ve also told my friends that I’m looking forward to law school, and they say, “Why, law school isn’t fun,” or “No one actually enjoys law school.” This always surprises me. If I didn’t think law school was going to be fun or exciting or intellectually stimulating, I wouldn’t go. There’s no use dropping $140,000 on an education that won’t make you happy or that you’re not entirely sure about. In that case, just give me the money?see, that way, at least one of us will get excited.
All of this is a little disconcerting. It’s not very helpful to think that “college is the best years of your life:” by definition, post-college life will be worse than college. Consider that we’re going to spend at least the next 55 years of our lives outside of college.
If you want just college happiness, fine with me. I’ll take the rest.
Some seniors seem too pessimistic about the future. But here’s something to remember: We’re going to graduate from one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the entire world. Let me say this again: We’re going to graduate from one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the entire world. I’m willing to bet that most employers want us as much as want them.
People have told me I’m too optimistic and that I always spin things in the best positive light?as if, somehow, there was something “unnatural” about being optimistic. But there’s nothing inherently more natural about thinking things won’t work out for the best. Even if they don’t, you’ll be in much better frame of mind to keep going.
Here’s an example. One of my friends constantly tells me I’m too na?ve, and I constantly tell him he’s too pessimistic. We’ve gotten into a few discussions about me wanting to go into politics. I told him I’ll be able to help people, and he says that I probably won’t because I won’t be able to change the system in a meaningful way. It’s okay that we have conflicting views, but it’s surprising that he says my views are na?ve and that he’s being realistic. What’s unrealistic about confidently expecting success? There’s no reason why optimism isn’t realism. It’s a much better form than pessimism.
So go out and enjoy your last two months of the year?and, more importantly, everything after that.
Brian Zuanich is a senior in the School of Foreign Service and a contributing editor of The Georgetown Voice. Smile.
