As November arrives and the end of the fall semester approaches, seniors offer a reminder: there are some experiences worth slowing down for. Through interviews with senior students, four experiences emerged as essential – the ones they say no student should graduate without checking off their bucket list.
1. Get involved
Campus involvement is advice that is often repeated many times; however it is worthwhile to take. There are many ways to get involved on campus, whether that be through clubs, Greek life, intramural sports or events that happen across campus. Many seniors spoke on how difficult it can be to meet and make friends. A step towards doing that is by being a part of something and not being afraid to engage in the community.
"Join clubs...check out the tabling that they do. You might not join all of them but you are going to make more friends, and it’s going to feel more colleg-ly," said Aidan McWhorter, a political science major.
2. Show up for campus traditions
Another piece of advice mentioned repeatedly is to participate in campus traditions. These traditions include Weeks of Welcome (WOW), Regatta, the International Festival, the Martin Luther King Jr. dinner, Jagathon and Jagapalooza. The purpose of these events is to create unforgettable memories. They focus on fostering community throughout the academic year, from the start of fall semester to the end of spring. They're an integral part of campus life.
“Jagapalooza is just fun, you meet a lot of people. It may not be the biggest tradition, but you still get to meet people,” said Lindsey Quillen, a philosophy major.
3. Don’t skip the internship
An internship can be a paid or unpaid work experience that concentrates in a field of study or career interest according to the Office of Student Employment site. Internships give students the opportunity to explore their chosen career field and determine if it’s a good fit for them. Seniors shared that they believe internships are important for developing communication and teamwork skills. Internships allow students to learn how to work alongside people and communicate professionally in a workplace setting.
“In my experience, internships really do open the door for so many more opportunities,” said Reese Brunner, a sport management major. “I have been able to be a part of so much more because of my internship…experience from internships is huge when looking for jobs after college.“
4. Venture downtown
One of the many benefits of attending IU Indianapolis is having downtown just down the road, which has so much to offer. Seniors recommended visiting Massachusetts Avenue (Mass. Ave.) which is an arts and entertainment district with art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and is known for its night life. Georgia Street is another popular street which links major sports and convention venues. These are just two of many popular streets downtown, and seniors urged students to explore the city especially if they are not from the area. There are countless places to explore downtown, and who knows – maybe you'll discover a hidden gem!
“If you haven’t experienced city life, I would definitely regret it, seeing as we are right downtown,” said Jackson Loving, a mechanical engineering and motorsports engineering major.
The advice from the seniors is clear: make the most of every opportunity available. Whether it's joining a club, going to campus traditions, gaining real-world experience through an internship, or exploring the streets of downtown Indianapolis, these experiences are worth slowing down for.
Citlali Sanchez is a senior majoring in sports journalism with a minor in sports marketing. She enjoys going out for boba, shopping (even if she does not buy anything) and watching anime. She can be found volunteering at sporting events in town or out at coffee shops.
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