Photo credit: Hunter Foote
Thursday, April 3 marked the beginning of the one-month countdown: 30 days until Azusa Pacific seniors will walk anxiously and excitedly across the graduation stage and all other APU students will walk eagerly and blissfully toward summer break.
Some seniors might be heading toward a land of no schoolwork, while others may be striving toward a graduate degree. Either way, May 3, 2014 will be a day of saying goodbye to APU.
Meanwhile, freshmen, sophomores and juniors look forward to enjoying summer vacation before returning in the fall.
“The end of the year is waking up knowing that I’m one day closer to a four-month break from writing papers,” junior psychology major Cody Ogg said.
The last 30 days of school for every student are a unique experience, whether it is drawn out, rapid, exciting or terrifying. To make this last month count, here is an APU student five-item bucket list of last-minute things to do.
1. Be a typical APU student.
Whether you like it or not, you attend this school. Before this semester ends, hit up an event that is uniquely filled with the Cougar vibe. The Office of Communiversity plans to host a “Last Bash” on April 25 as well as a “Midnight Breakfast” just before finals week.
2. Don’t be a typical APU student.
Spend an entire day away from campus. Visit a city you have never been to before or attend an event outside your comfort zone. Southern California is an incredible place to live because it is accessible: Drive to the beach, drive to the mountains, drive to Los Angeles. Just go.
3. Go on that coffee date.
Everyone has that friend. We all smile and gush and hug and say, “Let’s grab coffee soon,” but it never happens. If you want to go out for coffee, go out for coffee. If you don’t actually want to catch up, stop suggesting a coffee date every time you pass that friend in Heritage.
4. Visit the Office of Career Services.
This office provides guidance to APU students and alumni. By scheduling a meeting, you may get connected with the career, job or internship of your choice. Be proactive.
“Graduating seniors are preparing to enter the workforce and are often lost as to where to begin,” senior Business major Delaney Hoyle said. “A few key components to this process include doing company research, informational interviewing, preparing an elevator speech, résumé, cover letter, and personal brand.”
5. Be still.
Freshmen: Three years will fly by. Take some time to enjoy your college experience now and decide what is important to you. While grades are crucial, the person you are becoming matters most.
“As a freshman, some of my favorite moments have been rehearsals for my first theater production and hanging out in the dorms,” freshman theater major Aaron Wesselman said. “Before I graduate as a senior, I hope to make a meaningful impact in the APU community through future productions.”
Seniors: Live moment to moment. You cannot slow down or speed up time. Live fully by choosing joy over frustration, excitement over fear and hope over despair.
Alumna Jessica Baker graduated 2012 with a BFA in art and design. She advised seniors to take proper time to reflect before they graduate.
“Remember those moments you had with your roommates when you all decided that 3 a.m. was the best time to get Donut Man or when you decided to build a fort and watch Disney movies to avoid doing homework,” Baker said. “The most important thing though is to tell the people you’ve grown closest to how much you appreciate them and do all you can to keep in touch with them after you graduate.”
There are still 17 chapel-going, coffee-drinking, hipster-dressing, trolley-riding APU days left. But life is not over, even if school almost is. In fact, life is just starting. Don’t count down your school days — just live them.