Embarking on my senior year, I think back to the lingering memories of my freshman one: the… Embarking on my senior year, I think back to the lingering memories of my freshman one: the first day of classes, the first football game of the season and late-night run-ins with Pitt’s fine police force.

Now, in my final stretch as a Pitt student, I find myself back at my parents’ Shaler home. After a party-filled year of living in our run-down, Tiny Tim-sized apartment on Bates Street, my roommates and I packed up and moved down Fifth Avenue to Shadyside, going from one extreme to the next.

Unfortunately, my credit cards and bankbook couldn’t quite take the strain of living a block from Walnut Street’s nice, but unaffordable bars. This summer, my wonderful parents decided to offer me a car if I’d move home for my senior year.

Having a lighter class load this semester, I aimlessly wander around campus, using my free time to lie on the Cathedral lawn under a shady tree, or watch the sun set from the 35th floor of the Cathedral – some of my favorite pastimes as a freshman.

Yet, back then, I was faced with the concept of doing nothing but daydreaming about that night’s party or under-21 bar-hopping adventure, along with going to a few classes here and there.

The biggest problems I faced freshman year were walking home from a late-night party at the “crackhouse” on Frazer Street, not being able to open my door – and learning that I could jump into my apartment window by moving my fan out of the way – and relocating my lost purse and cell phone after a party up on the Hill.

College life seems to be wrapping itself up, but I am not prepared to be an alumna quite yet. Life in the real world? I’m not sure I’m ready for that. Currently, my brain is bombarded with thoughts of graduate school, getting a job, starting a career and wondering about my “Prince Charming” – what happened to happily ever after, anyway?

I’ve realized that, despite all that has changed in the last four years, much has stayed the same.

All through college, I was always looking forward to the end of class, the upcoming weekend, running into the cutie I met at the party the weekend before. Regardless of what it was, I always seemed to be wishing the time away.

I honestly think I’ve met more people in the last four years of college than I have my entire life prior to that. I’ve made best friends, lasting relationships and future contacts, and even fallen in love – thanks to a chance meeting on Fifth Avenue one afternoon. These people are people I will remember and treasure for my entire life. I know I shouldn’t be getting sentimental until the end of the year, but I guess it’s the beginning of an ending, in a way.

Life in college is how it always should be: some work, lots of play, quality time with friends at every given chance, JC’s 100 Beers Cult at Fuel and Fuddle, late nights at Cumpie’s, long walks in the park, sunsets at Washington’s Landing, and second-chance meetings on Fifth Avenue to make things as right and comfortable as they once were.

Since we cannot turn the clock back, I guess I’ll just have to try to make this year the best yet.

I’ll go on more walks in the park, take in a few more sunsets, hang out with friends a little later and attempt to recapture the innocence of freshman year – well, let’s not go too far.

I have one more autumn on campus, one more spring break adventure, one more St. Patty’s day – with its green shots – and one more end-of-year bash to attend. This time, I am not only saying good-bye to friends who are leaving, but also saying good-bye to college life.

Now, what am I looking forward to? Did it all just pass me by that quickly? There seems to be this large, open chunk of life out there, and no instructions given. Maybe, if I’m lucky, things will fall into place. I’ll land a job as a reporter at a local newspaper and get a nice place of my own, and I won’t have to wonder about chance meetings, because things will finally work themselves out.

Christine Claus is grateful for lost notebooks and late nights. She can be reached at [email protected].