Each year of college offers something fresh: different challenges, unexpected opportunities and new perspectives. Every university student has heard the phrase, “These are the best years of your life. They will fly by, so don’t take them for granted.” As a freshman, this saying doesn’t really mean anything to you – you have four years of fun ahead of you. As a senior, these words couldn’t ring more true – you’re about to enter the real world, and you wonder how your college years disappeared so fast. Every stage of college life is different, and at the start of yet another school year, students are excited and anticipating what this year will bring.

Freshmen have the task of creating an identity for themselves at Auburn. Whatever honor societies, student government association or sports team students were involved with in high school are unknown among their new peers. Students have two choices: start fresh to create a new identity by joining new groups or getting involved in different ways, or work to re-establish the same reputation they had in high school. Students either relish the clean slate and fresh start, or experience anxiety about having to start over and meet new people.

“I’m excited to join a fraternity, meet new people and be on my own,” said Auburn University freshman Brandon Howell. “It’s like I get to start over.”

Sophomores experience an awkward phase: they are no longer the freshmen who are naive about college, but they are still creating an identity and finding their niche. This is the time to start thinking a bit more seriously about what one’s major will be and getting more involved in Greek life, clubs or other organizations. Classes are more challenging as professors are no longer babying students.

Juniors experience being somewhat of a “big kid” on campus. The students exchange core classes for major classes that actually pertain to what they want to do upon graduation. They have established a core group of friends, and have learned where they fit in on Auburn’s campus. This is the last year to really enjoy before settling down senior year and working toward a job.

Senior year. The time a student realizes that their time in college is indeed limited. “As a freshman, I never thought this day would come,” said Grace Seymour, senior at Auburn University. “But now I look back and wonder where in the world the past three years have gone.”

Seniors must start thinking about a career or more education following graduation. They must bid farewell to friends that may have already left, endure the feeling of being the oldest people at the bars and realize that their time in college is coming to a close. This is the year students realize that college truly is the best time of one’s life, and start wishing that they had never taken a single moment for granted.

Each year at Auburn offers something different for students. Each year holds a new experience for each student. Students need to relish every moment, because every year goes by a little faster than the year before.














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