Column by Allison Borthwick, Opinion Editor
Self-righteousness hath no fury like a soon-to-be graduating senior.
It was true in high school, and it’s definitely true now. For some, it starts as early as first semester sophomore year.
As soon as we become upperclassmen, we start looking at the incoming freshman with superior, knowing eyes – eyes filled with wisdom far beyond their years.
We know not to wear a lanyard around our necks to carry our student ID and keys – they don’t. We know how to differentiate between the good, the bad and the ugly at dining halls – they’ll learn that the hard way. We know good and bad professors better than RateMyProfessors – they’ll figure that out.
We’re untouchable “twenty-somethings” and they still have a one in front of their ages. Buzzfeed loves us – who wouldn’t?
We start giving out advice nobody asks for or really wants, like the first-time mother who thinks she knows everything about child-rearing by month three.
Give it a few years.
That mother will be exposed to the “terrible twos” and we will be exposed to student loan bills.
Seniors – let’s not fly too close to the sun and burn our college-educated wings.
We’re not the hottest thing there is. We still have to go to class, attend meetings and pass off our nighttime yoga pants as daytime class-wear just like everyone else – even the freshman.
We have to stop approaching every student responsibility like we’re inmates being released soon on good behavior. We haven’t finished serving our time here just yet.
Have some respect for your professors, bosses and, most importantly, yourself. Don’t give up. Yes, the light at the end of the tunnel keeps getting brighter, but there are things in the tunnel we’ve yet to accomplish. Namely, figure out why you’re a 21-year-old really trying to commit to a cliche tunnel metaphor.
We have to keep up our grades, wear real clothes (sometimes) and pay attention in class. Our professors will be taking note of who is checking in and who is checking out. When we need a letter of recommendation for the job hunt we will soon be starting, we’ll need them on our side.
USNews.com quotes Sara Hamon, associate dean of Undergraduate Studies at Florida State University: “Your motivation at the end of your senior year … is a pretty good indication in terms of your motivation for the next stage of your life.”
In other words, treat the last stretch of your undergraduate career like it’s the first stretch of your actual career.
So, we have to stop treating underclassmen like we’re better than them. Yes, they look impossibly young and are wearing those lanyards like trophies, but they are on the same playing field as us now.
Instead of looking at them and thinking, “Man, I’m so glad I’m not a freshman,” think, “Man, they have three more years ahead of them to not make the mistakes I did.”
Because, come on – how much truth is there behind #NoRegrets?
Even though we pay tens of thousands of dollars to attend Murray State, we can’t walk around like we own the place.