It is finally official, I am a senior and this is going to be my last year at Eastern. I have decided to set personal and academic goals this school year. Every student at Eastern should enjoy the school year, especially seniors because it is the last year before adulthood.

Legally, I have been an adult for almost a year, but I don’t think I will really feel like an adult until I finish this last year and graduate in May.

Graduating from college is a major milestone in life and for most students it is quickly followed by taking on the tasks and responsibilities of being an adult, such as getting a job, finding a place to live that is affordable and tackling student loan debt.

Although planning for the future is good, right now I am focusing more on the near future as I work to achieve a few more personal goals that I recommend for all students.

Take more photos of you and your friends

I am not the most photogenic person amongst my friends, which is probably why I have taken little to no photos my past three years and I am starting to regret it.

You do not have to be dressed to the nines to take a photo with your friend, or be at a party. It could simply be watching TV, eating ice cream with your best friend or taking a walk and enjoying the weather.

These memories may last forever in your mind, but they make a great keepsake for when you want to look back on the good times.

Go on more road trips throughout Illinois

Whether you take a road trip to Champaign or Chicago, the number of sites to see in Illinois is endless.

Take the time to plan a weekend trip to a new location and be sure to take lots of pictures. I personally like to plan spontaneous  late-night Steak-N-Shake runs or just a fun midnight drive while jamming out to old Disney songs.

Just hanging out with friends and getting out of the cornfields of middle Illinois can make a fun experience.

 Make healthier choices

Making healthier choices doesn’t mean eating only completely healthy food, but making smaller changes to diet or exercise.

For example, I plan on cutting out chocolate for a whole month and going to the gym every morning to get my recommended daily activity.

Making healthier choices will ultimately make you feel better and have a good mindset. Doing it here at Eastern while the school’s resources are still available to me is a bonus. 

I wish I had made these goals sooner, because I regret not taking more photos, or doing more trips with my friends. These past three years of college have gone by fast and I do not want to miss any more opportunities to make memories with my friends.. 

Kate Rehwinkel is a senior business management major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or at kerehwinkel@eiu.edu.