As the semester comes to an end, each week seems to be busier than the last. I had three papers due this week and a group project. The compulsive list-maker in me created a schedule of when each project needs to be completed.

On Monday, I decided to work out at CRCE. I planned on doing the 5K next Friday, so I was trying to prepare. I ran two miles and then started on my cool down. Suddenly, my left palm felt itchy. I scratched and scratched it, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. Then my scalp started getting itchy. My headphones started to feel tight, and I felt my ears swelling up. It was then I knew something was wrong.

I walked into the locker room to grab my things, and I got a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My face was rapidly swelling. I knew I was having a severe allergic reaction. I took medication for it, but I still wasn’t feeling better. I called my sister to ask for advice, but I had to hang up on her because I couldn’t breathe well enough to keep talking.

I had to ask people working at CRCE to call 911 for me. (I have no idea what their names are, but if you’re reading this, thank you!) The paramedics gave me the medicine I needed, and I was taken to the hospital. Within a few hours, I was back to normal.

Needless to say, my trip to the hospital derailed my work plans for the week. I had made detailed plans for when to do certain assignments, but those plans fell through.

This experience made me think about plans. We often plan ahead and set goals for the future without expecting much of ourselves in the present. As a senior, this realization hit me hard when I looked at my syllabus and realized one of my classes only meets two more times this semester.

As a freshman, I had certain expectations of what I would be like as a senior. I’m not sure I’ve met those expectations. I worry that I spent three years here and have not left an impact on the University. I fear that I didn’t live up to my potential. I worry that I didn’t meet enough new people.

Part of the reason I feel this way is because I put off these goals. As a freshman, I thought I had plenty of time to get involved in extracurricular activities. But toward the end of the year, I realized that I wasn’t part of any Registered Student Organizations and I really hadn’t left my comfort zone. So sophomore year, I decided I couldn’t procrastinate on getting involved. I began working for The Daily Illini, and I’m glad I did.

Despite my involvement at the DI, I still feel like there are many parts of the college experience I missed out on. I haven’t had a professor be my mentor, I haven’t pulled an all-nighter yet and I haven’t had a picnic on the Quad.

This is entirely my own fault. I have put off these experiences, thinking I can do them later. But graduating a year early derailed my plans. I wish I could go back and live differently. There is no guarantee we have another year, week or even day to do all we hope to do.

If you are a senior, I hope you’ve done everything you planned to do in college. If not, you still have a few weeks, so get started on your bucket list immediately. If you aren’t a senior, know that graduation is much closer than you think. Don’t expect on doing things later in college. Start doing what you’re passionate about now; do more and plan less.

Safia is a senior in LAS. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @safia_kazi.