For most undergraduates, college is thought of as a four-year process — at least.
So, for students with transferable credits from high school, putting off gathering and submitting transcripts can result in a lot of future disorder.
Unfortunately, I’m learning that in the most hands-on way possible, by living through that disorder.
As a second-semester sophomore, I made the decision to contact four local colleges back home—all at which I took classes through in high school. I didn’t know how many credits I’d acquired in my studies—or if any were even transferable—but I figured it was time to investigate.
After contacting these colleges, requesting my transcripts and bringing them to the university’s registrar office, I met with my adviser to go over the credits transferred and my outstanding credit requirements.
To my surprise, over 30 credits had transferred. In short: I’d advanced an entire collegiate year over the course of 24 hours.
Now, I’ve begun my third year at Bonaventure and, to my dismay, I’m also on my last undergraduate year; I’m a senior and, considering I planned on being here four years, that’s a pretty startling reality.
To some, that might sound exciting; it means I’m one step closer to my career, right?
While that’s true, I wasn’t mentally prepared for that truth and, presumably, other students in my situation weren’t either.
As I see it, college is more than an academic journey; it’s a personal and social one, too.
The structure of our required classes—both in Clare College and our perspective majors—build to fulfill a 120-credit requirement, deeming us competent in our fields. And, so, I’m confident in my academic journey ending in three years.
I can’t say the same for my personal and social journeys, though.
I’ve grown a lot over my past (almost) three years and I’m thankful for that growth. Bonaventure has afforded me the opportunity to meet more people than I can count, try more things than I can sometimes remember and, really, just be myself.
Through that freedom I found a voice, one lined with an air of confidence I couldn’t have imagined prior to my freshman year.
With that being said, I have a ways to go and, in all honesty, I sometimes question if I’ll reach my goal of complete self-assuredness by this May.
Of course I’m human, and that means the road to level-headedness is longer than our eyes can perceive.
Still, I’d banked on a four-year process to get closer to that feat.
Individual growth aside, graduating early means I’ll never have the experience of living off campus. Likewise, I’ll be experiencing those “this is our last time doing this” moments alone. Most shockingly, I have one less year before I enter the workforce—the most frightening realization of all.
I should mention I plan to go to graduate school, and that’ll serve as a gateway between graduation and suit-and-tie life, but graduate school was always in my professional blueprint.
Realizing I’m graduating early halfway through my college experience meant adjusting my life’s pace, really.
Suddenly, my grades have an added importance—and my personal and social lives do, too. I’m reveling in the comfort of undergraduate life—while I can.
As the collegiate clock ticks on, I’m pulling at its hands, using the weight of my choices to slow time down. I’m filling every moment with an intent to grow and learn, in and out of the classroom—something too many students, regardless of their journey’s duration, realize as their college experience nears its end.
In all this shock, I’ve learned a painfully hands-on lesson in appreciating the time you’re given, both in college life and life at large. And that’s the silver lining to all of this.
As I continue on, with a cap and gown in my eyes’ viewpoint, I’m ensuring that nothing’s taken for granted—yes, that includes Hickey food.
Going to class feels cathartic, sleeping in seems pointless and just walking the campus’ grounds provides an unexplainable release.
In short, I’ve been forced into a new outlook on time—that it’s only limited if you don’t use it to your best advantage.
mcgurllt14@bonaventure.edu
