If you happened to miss out on the Vanderbilt social media frenzy of the past few days, the Class of 2015 officially graduated! As I stalked all the photos of the regalia, champagne, strawberries, and family group shots from my home in Bethlehem, PA, I thought about how much the seniors have impacted my Vanderbilt experience.

People love to ask the question, “What’s one thing you wish you knew before coming to college?” The more I reflect on this year, the more my list grows. The newest addition is this: I wish someone had told me that your year or age honestly doesn’t matter; the upperclassmen are not nearly as scary as they seem.

The seniors I came to know and love this year were fantastic mentors, always willing to give advice. At the same time, they were normal young adults who procrastinated on research papers and loved 2AM trips to get milkshakes. One of the biggest lessons they taught me was that no one really has it all together. Just as I worried about what “business casual” actually meant or how in the world to apply for internships, they were worried about finding a job and a place to live. Growing up does not mean that you know what you’re doing or that the uncertainty goes away. The goal is just to learn to approach uncertainty with resilience, positivity, a good sense of humor, and friends by your side.

To the Class of 2015, you will be missed. I cannot wait to see the fantastic impact you will have on your new communities. To the Class of 2019, the seniors are your friends and their experience is invaluable. While saying goodbye is hard, I am thrilled to say hello to the new first-years come August.

Much love,

Gabi