I entered senior year with an open mind, a few less credits, and a positive outlook for the future. It’s week four, and all has remained constant for the most part—the positivity remains intact, but I’m beginning to feel the mid-semester strain work against me, slowly and stealthily. I would like to consider myself one step ahead of the game, but an important task that I have yet to accomplish is the successful completion of my Application for Candidacy form which—once processed by our dear friends in the Office of the Registrar—verifies that I am on track to graduate in May.
Perhaps I’ve caught an early bout of senioritis given that each time I try to fill out the form—a whopping double-sided sheet, mind you—I find myself being interrupted or distracted by other responsibilities. I begin going through all my courses listed under “Institutional Coursework” on the myStevens portal, and by the time I get through my sophomore semesters, I call it a day and promise myself that I will complete it sometime later.
You can blame it on a short attention span, laziness, or even good old procrastination—but if I’m going to be honest with you (seriously, I’m on the Honor Board, I have to be honest with you), I think my inability to finish my Application for Candidacy form is due to a subconscious longing for the past or at the very least, a delay of the inevitable. I’m going to go all Freudian for a second and do some self-analysis, so bear with me.
I came into Stevens as a Chemical Engineering student aspiring to enter industry until I had an end-of- second-semester epiphany: I missed my biology books, abhorred my design courses, and returned home to the School of Science where I’ve dwelled happily for the past two years. During that time, Stevens has become a place of maturation, friendship, and inspiration, from both my peers and professors. I was the fool that posted “Happy first day of sixteenth grade!!” on my Instagram and felt a visceral sadness upon realizing that August 28, 2017 would be the last “first day” of my undergraduate career. The epicenter of my senior year has focused not only on me, but also on the university that has provided me a wealth of opportunity.
Filling out my Application for Candidacy is simple—much simpler than any Instrumental Analysis exam, or worse, the Electricity and Magnetism final. Yet, I cannot help but feel the heaviness of the paper in my hand as it represents the totality of my undergraduate experience, namely the many hours spent in the library, the quality time spent in the company of my truest friends, and the knowledge accumulated in the classroom.
The deadline is approaching—it’s Oct. 2, to all my fellow seniors—and the weeks continue to pass quickly, without paying reverence to my need for a slower pace. My Application for Candidacy still sits quietly on my desk, unsigned and incomplete. I will eventually make my way to my advisor’s office for her final signature, but, contrary to popular belief, when it comes to matters such as these, I’d say a little procrastination is just fine indeed.
Be First to Comment