I’ve experienced a lot of “lasts” lately. Last Illinois basketball game as a student. Last week as an undergraduate. And now, last time I’ll see my name in The Daily Illini sports section.

For being so young, I’ve never felt so old. I’m not sure I like it.

That’s the nature of change, I suppose. It shows up all the time, usually unwelcome and uninvited, and always oh so dreaded. But you deal with it. Change is never as bad as originally thought.

Maybe a week in the adult world is better than a week in the student world. Perhaps Illinois basketball games will mean even more to me in the future than they do now. I have my doubts, but I don’t know. Change is tough, and I’m apprehensive, but what can I do about it? The blandest cliche is also the truest — “It is what it is.”

I felt anxious leaving high school and coming to Champaign, too. But looking back, any moment spent uneasy was a moment wasted. I worried about finding people who shared my interests, my pursuits and my love of sports. Little did I know I would find a clique of lifelong, sport-loving friends.

I was skeptical that Division-I athletics were any different, any more awesome or any more significant for current students than they were for prospective students. I could never have anticipated the number of times I’d lose my voice at Illini games, the number of nights defined by the glory and heartbreak of Illinois, the number of memories.

I had no idea I would join The Daily Illini. When I finally did make that decision, I had no idea how I would fit in. Ultimately, I had no idea how much joy I would find in sitting down each week to write this column.

I’m going to miss that next year. I’m going to miss plenty of things. But it was a damn good ride.

I hope everyone on this campus can look back at the end of his Champaign-Urbana years and say the same thing. If you can’t, make it happen. If you’ve never been to a basketball game or a football game, get there. If there is a place on this campus you haven’t seen, go see it. Go, go, go. You’ll never get another chance to sit in the student section. You’ll never get another shot at undergraduate life.

The change from high school to college is anticipated. The personal change from freshman year to senior year is a bit more unexpected, a bit more eye-opening, and if 21-year-old me could sit down with 18-year-old me, he’d slap him around a bit and tell him a few things: College isn’t like it is in the movies. It’s much more substantial. It’s much better. Have fun, but don’t be an idiot. Embrace your education, but don’t be a shut-in. Cheer on the Illini until your lungs hurt. Get outside. Go out. Go to class. Go to everything.

I made plenty of mistakes, but none too devastating and all leading me exactly to where I am now.

I think that’s the goal. As my time runs out, I’m beginning to understand my luck. This school has treated me very well, and I’ll miss it dearly.

Goodbye, Daily Illini. Goodbye, U of I. Goodbye, old friend. It was good while it lasted.

Jack is a senior in LAS. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JCassidy10.