You’ve known this day was coming since freshman year. Unfortunately, even with a victory lap, college has an eventual expiration date–and it’s finally here. You’re lucky, really, because no one wants to be that unwanted super senior, creeping for all eternity. If you hadn’t been forcibly removed by graduation, you might have become one, so it’s better in the long run (that’s what you tell yourself, at least). Suddenly, you’re trying to soak in everything, but you find yourself wishing for one more of everything. You’ve always been excessive, especially when it comes to booze and boys, but now enough is never quite enough.
Leaving a place you love is never easy, even when you know it’s time. You don’t want to be that postgrad pariah, lurking at chapter meetings, absolutely obsessed with a sorority that while you’ll be a member of for a lifetime, you’re no longer entirely part of. There are certain people and places that make goodbyes even harder without a copious amount of alcohol and an endless supply of feels.
1. Your Not-Boyfriend
Sure, it’s long over, and sure, you hate his stinking guts, but you always thought you’d get some kind of closure. I mean, you may have made out with the majority of his pledge class, terrorized his new hookups, and spread some rumors about his, ahem, abilities, but there was no real closure, and you can’t exactly stay in your college town forever waiting for it.
2. Your Bartender
He’s your dream man. He knows all your secrets, he hates when boys are mean to you, and when you’re with him, you’ll never go sober. It might not be romantic, but with enough cleave, you can guarantee unlimited drinks. This relationship is special, because it’s definitely one of the longest relationships with a boy you’ve ever had. The bar, itself, is another story. There will never be drink specials like this again. In your adult life, Thursday nights are reserved for awkward Tinder dates and catching up on laundry. They aren’t spent on top of a table, borderline blackout, with stranger danger–but a girl can dream.
3. Your Family
Eventually, the rest of your lineage will be forced to fend for themselves in the real world. Until then, you’ll miss out on pregames, pizza postgames, and taking an infinite amount of pictures. After the first mixer, when your FOMO hits near record levels, you’ll survive. Just remember: you’re joining your big and g-big, and next year, your little will be an official member of the real world, too. Trust that the nuggets in your family will be inappropriately intoxicated at every event ever, and it will be much easier to move on.