For underclassmen, the end of the spring semester usually signals the start of summer break and time away from their studies. However, for current seniors, the end of the spring semester means graduation and the close of their undergraduate career.
With graduation just around the corner, some seniors chose to create a bucket list, compiling a multitude of must-do items before May.
Apparel and textile design and public relations senior Lily Stroup said she decided to create one to “turn the page on this chapter.”
“I feel like I'm a very sentimental person, and I feel like there's just so much to do as a graduating senior, I know, especially myself, I get really caught up in the job search and just all my academics and clubs,” Stroup said. “So having a bucket list of things that I really, really wanted to accomplish before graduating, and turning the page on this chapter was really important to me and my roommate. I'm really close with my cousin, so we kind of have our own little bucket list going as well.”
For international relations and social relations and policy senior Lauren Pelon, making a bucket list let her “justify trying new things.”
Similarly, kinesiology senior Daika Medrano said her bucket list was created to shake up her normal routine.
“I have been at MSU for four years, and I feel like there's a lot that I haven't done, and I've had the same routine throughout the four years,” Medrano said. “I think when you're going to graduate, you realize how much you've missed and how much you want to do within such a short amount of time.”
Ranging from throwing a fake birthday party to visiting every bar in East Lansing, here are some bucket list items these seniors want to achieve before they graduate:
Trivia and karaoke night
Medrano said she wants to attend trivia and karaoke night the most before leaving MSU.
“Both of those are in conversation with Maddie, my roommate, and we were just talking about, I think it was a conversation we were having about TikToks, or just videos that we were watching, and we decided why not do a karaoke and a trivia night?” Medrano said.
Similarly, Pelon said attending activities like trivia and karaoke night have been some things she has wanted to do.
“(We) wanted to partake in various bar activities,” Pelon said. “You know how Landshark has trivia and karaoke night, kind of going to more of those (type of) activities during the week, which we haven't done yet, but I'm assuming we'll get done at some point.”
Attend New York Fashion Week
Attending New York Fashion Week, Stroup said, was one of the biggest items on her bucket list.
“This semester in February, me and my friend Celeste, who's also a part of VIM, we really wanted to go to a New York Fashion Week,” Stroup said. “One of the things that was big on my senior bucket list was volunteering for a Fashion Week show. We were actually able to do that back in February, and that was really exciting, and that was a personal goal for me as well.”
Visit every MSU building
Medrano said she wants to visit every MSU building before graduating.
“Another one is, I've had this since freshman year, but I haven't really done it, it's going to all the MSU buildings,” Medrano said. “I pay to be here, you know, and I feel like I get the full experience by at least seeing what every building looks like.”
Visit every bar in East Lansing
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Pelon said she recently completed the bucket list item to visit every bar in East Lansing and that it was the one she really wanted to achieve.
“I did want to go to all of the East Lansing bars officially, so I am happy that we did achieve that,” Pelon said.
Try different foods around East Lansing
Stroup said she enjoys trying new food places around East Lansing and wants to try more before leaving MSU.
“Me and my cousin really, really, really love going out for food and trying different foods around East Lansing, Lansing area,” Stroup said. “So, this hasn't been completed yet, but we have a running list of restaurants and dinners that we want to try and different snacks.”
Go for a run on campus
Medrano said going for a run on campus is “scary,” but nevertheless wants to try.
“I kind of want to go on a run on campus,” Medrano said. “Going on a run is kind of scary on campus, because being a senior, I feel like too many people know who I am now, and I really don't want to be seen on campus running, especially, but I think it's something I just want to do. Yeah, just run on campus, go for at least a singular run before I graduate.”
Visit the Dairy Store
Although Pelon said she has been to the Dairy Store before, her roommates haven’t, warranting another trip.
“The next one is to go to the Dairy Store. I personally have gone to the Dairy Store, but none of them have,” Pelon said.
Revisit old dorm halls
For Stroup, reminiscing about her underclassman days with her roommate by visiting their old dorm halls is high on her list.
“This was another thing with me and my roommate, we've been roommates for the last four years,” Stroup said. “We've lived in Yakeley together, Landon together, so returning to our old dorms and having a meal and maybe just walking around our buildings, if we can, and that area, and doing a whole, like walk of campus in our like little spots and stuff.”
Throw a fake birthday party
Stroup said her birthday has always fallen during the summer, so she aims to throw a fake birthday party, mimicking a party that would usually happen during break.
“Kind of have this fun little apartment party vibe, but that's definitely just to get everyone together and, you know, just celebrate, I don't know, because I feel like these last couple of weeks have been so crazy hectic, and now I feel like I'm finally like, ‘Oh my gosh graduation, (and) everything else,’” Stroup said.
With graduation just a few weeks away, mixed feelings cloud the minds of some seniors.
Medrano said it’s “exciting.”
“It's kind of exciting, right? Because I'm moving on to the next point of my life, but it's also a little sad, because I have been here four years, right? So I'm used to it,” Medrano said. “Leaving home, even though I'm not that far away, freshman year was kind of scary, but now this is my home, and it's a little sad but exciting, and the bucket list just really closes it out for you, where you would feel a little accomplished and ready to move on to the next step.”
Being so close to graduation, Pelon said, doesn’t feel real.
“Feels surreal,” Pelon said. “It doesn't feel like it's actually happening. I feel like I have so many other things happening for school and for work, where I'm just like, ‘Oh, can't think about that right now,’ like I got to go on to each item.”
Similarly, Stroup said it feels “bittersweet.”
“It's definitely bittersweet. I think I'm definitely over the academic part of college. I really, really stacked my semesters the last couple of years, so I feel like I finally have some time to enjoy college a little bit more this semester, which is really nice, but I'm excited for the formalities of graduating. I guess just having everyone's gathering, getting to celebrate everyone's different achievements, too,” Stroup said. “So I think that's really exciting, but it's definitely nervewracking. I think especially this job market is not the best time to be graduating right now, but I'm excited for what's to come. I think there's a lot out there, and just look into the positive aspects of it all.”
