I’ve been wanting to write this post for some time now, but knew that it would have to be after graduation. I’ve been taking notes on things I would be saying for nearly a year though. After two weeks of post-grad life, I think I’m ready to drop some knowledge on y’all.

It is strange to be feeling very far away from the college life. Last night after a full week of work, I went to bed at 9:45 PM. What up new Friday nights?!

In this post, I wanted to combine the lessons I’ve learned, the advice I wanted to give, and some of my most memorable experiences over the last four years.

Lessons Learned In College

• There is nothing worse than being a disorganized mess. College helped me restore some order into my life by utilizing an outlook calendar and creating multiple to-do lists. Is the to-do list close to even being done? Never, but at least I wrote it down. And when writing it down, you never really forget – at least not permanently.
• College isn’t high school unless you make it like high school. Be who you are. Say what you want (when appropriate) and give zero eff’s when it comes to doing your thing. I loved my youth years, but high school wasn’t always ideal for me when everyone there wanted me to be a certain way. Straying away from that mold makes people uncomfortable for some reason and people don’t like change and they don’t like different. Lucky for me, college enabled me to be exactly who I wanted to be and I could not have been happier!
•  Hard work pays off. I worked my butt off in high school, but freshman year Katie thought school would be much easier once I got in. I wish I would have kept up my stamina in my studies that first year instead of playing catch up sophomore year. Seattle University was a small school, which means the drive to become more competitive among my peers was higher. Being successful is cool. Being a bum is not. I can’t say if it’s the same for other schools, but it was rare at Seattle University to only just be a student. Most of my peers and all of my friends either worked one or two jobs while they were in school and/or participated in a number of extracurricular activities and were involved in the community. PS: Employers totally look at that sort of thing after you graduate.
• College is a time for experimentation. We’ve all got our own vices and you’ll be fine abusing them as long as it is in moderation. Is that an oxymoron? Don’t be that person that doesn’t go to class to abuse your vices though. That person is not that cool.
• Never try to study, read, or do homework in your bed. If you fall asleep, which I have on many occasions, the only person you can blame is yourself.

College Has Taught Me…

• That four meals are essential on weekends. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Late Night Dinner after a party/bar, which mainly consists of happy hour sushi, street meat, pizza, or a Dick’s burger.
• That I am still incapable of taking care of my intoxicated friends.
• That my school’s cafe is not a buffet. Portion control y’all!
• That both shameful and shameless moments help us develop our character

I Will Always Remember…

• Celebrating my Legen-wait for it-dary 20th birthday party.
• Writing professor plea letters.
• Womp womp breakfasts
• The epic Tree House of freshman year
• All of Seattle University’s greatest traditions of Gallon Challenge and Senior Streak
• Incorporating my favorite pop culture references into my assignments – Hello Kitty in my geology PowerPoint, Miley Cyrus in my philosophy paper, and The Office in my human resources project. It is just more fun that way.

Last Minute Tips

• This might be contradictory to a statement above, but at some point – to some extent – you need to care about how you come off to others. Girls, don’t be skankboxes. Boys, don’t be a douches. Respect yourself and respect others. You’re welcome for that piece of advice.
• Failing an exam is not the end of the world. Failing a class is another story…still not the end of the world, but you may need to check yourself.
• Boys are strange creatures. In college, you can expect to have some stories to tell later on. You may date a few weird ones, but eventually, you’ll find the right one (so we all hope!)
• Don’t be that guy/girl that is always asking the person next to you what they got on their assignment/paper/exam. Worry about yourself, please. You don’t need to know other people’s scores to feel better about yourself.
• Whether you are learning from the classroom or not, never stop learning. Even after you graduate, continue trying to be the smartest person you can be.
• Follow your passion. Do what makes you happy. In college, I always feel like people are conflicted with this because they feel selfish or some other reason, but you know what? No. You deserve to be selfish every once in awhile and haters are gonna hate. The only reason they’re even hating is because they aren’t passionate about something and need you to help them fill their time. Don’t do that to yourself.
• Make time to have heart-to-hearts with your friends. They will end up being some of the best conversations you will ever have.
• Say “yes” to things that push you outside of your comfort zone. Say “no” to things or people that could put you in dangerous situations.
• Know that you are awesome. It’s not cockiness. It’s just you being confident and knowing what you want out of your life and college experience.
• Be nice to your parents. They deserve some credit for getting you to where you are and after all, you are making them the happiest parents alive by being in school!
• At some point, everyone pukes.
• In college, people are going to come in and out of your life. Some of them are great and will make awesome acquaintances and friends for life. Others will serve as an anchor and bring you down. Don’t pass Go. Don’t collect $100. Just leave them behind. I know it sounds harsh, but trust – this is for your own good.

And BOOM! you’ve got the last “college” post that will ever be written on Yow Yow! Seattle University, it has been real. I mean it – nothing has ever felt more real to me than attending your school. In the four years that I have been here, I have gone through my fair share of highs and lows (more highs than lows!) I have met the most amazing people I will ever come across in my life. SEAC, Search, OA’s, my jobs and internships – I would not be the same person if I didn’t have you in my life. You have truly transformed me from this small, young, naive girl into a passionate and strong woman. I am grateful to have attended a university that truly let me achieve everything I wanted to achieve whether it be creating new traditions or enhancing them.

When applying to schools, I thought Seattle University would not be able to provide me with what I was looking for out of a school, but instead it gave me everything and more.

Last tip: I’m never letting my school ID go and neither should you.

Got any tips you’d like to share? Feel free to post it in the comments!