You guys. The other day I realized something that came as quite a shock, as silly as it may sound. Here we are, practically mid-October, and also practically midterms as well.

I would be lying if I said I had any inkling of how far along we were in the semester, and that makes me want to panic for several reasons.

First of all, midterms. I feel like I have hardly had any time to process the material we’ve gone over in my classes, so how can I possibly be expected to take midterms when it still feels like the first few weeks of school where we’re attempting to decipher Chapter 1?

Midterms also means I’m that much closer to graduation in December. I’ve obsessively checked my graduation requirements at least 10 times by now (this is probably a gross underestimation) and even gotten the okay from ISU’s graduation services, but I’m still waiting for something to come up. Maybe I’ve forgotten some obscure upper division class that’s only offered every other fall, or perhaps I blocked out some sort of general education requirement (gym class, it would definitely be gym class)?

The looming promise/threat of graduation brings up so many other things that make me want to panic. Leaving Idaho State University is an example of one of those things.

I’ve gotten pretty comfortable here, to the point that I can make my way around campus and attend all of my classes with only a minimal amount of social-interaction-induced terror. I’ve scoped out the best coffee spots, and know exactly when to stop by to avoid the day’s various rushes.

I’ve gotten pretty comfortable at “The Bengal,” too, finally cleaning my desk (it only took a year and a half!), checking my voicemail somewhat regularly and sharing my weekly musings with the rest of the student population.

It will be weird to move on to a different town, a different university and, eventually, a different publication.

So here we are, hurtling toward the end of the semester and the end of my life as I’ve become accustomed to it over the past four years, and I feel like I really need to get it together, for all of these upcoming deadlines.

First and foremost, it’s time to get it together for school. That means anticipating upcoming assignments, putting forth my best effort and actually being prepared for what’s to come.

Then it’s time to get things together for graduation and my big move halfway across the country to Chicago.

Although I anticipate having to square things away and still figure out how to pack up and move between finals and Christmas, I’m trying to focus on here and now rather than looking ahead. Though my academic priorities certainly involve keeping an eye on the future, I’m trying to stay socially grounded in order to enjoy the little time I have left with my awesome friends, roommates and coworkers.

Regardless of what upcoming events you may be preparing for (or desperately avoiding preparing for, if you’re anything like me), try to keep in mind what’s most important.

For now, it’s first stop midterms, next stop middle of Illinois.

Nicole is a senior majoring in Mass Communication