By: Devansh Ramani, Francis College of Engineering Well-Being Leader
“A reflection on growth, nostalgia, and looking ahead as a college senior.”
This Fall, I officially became a senior. I’ve thought about this day ever since I first stepped onto campus, and now that it’s here, it feels both surreal and exciting. Over the years, I’ve created countless memories with friends — some who have already graduated, and others who will follow after me. But there’s one thing we all share: the realization that this might be the last time in our lives that we study not entirely out of our own volition, but to pass a class, earn a better grade, or better understand the field we’ve chosen to dedicate our lives to.
Looking Back
When I think back to my early college days, I can’t help but feel both regret and envy. Those were the times when I went to class not just to learn, but to meet new people, laugh, and make memories. I remember walking around campus with no real plan, just enjoying the freedom of being young and curious.
Now, as graduation approaches, I find myself reflecting on those moments with nostalgia. I miss the simplicity of those days — when the future felt distant and the present was enough.
Standing at the Crossroads
Today, my thoughts are filled with questions about what comes next. How will I face the world beyond college? What steps should I take to reach my goals and ambitions?
It’s a strange mix of fear and excitement — the uncertainty of leaving something familiar, but also the thrill of stepping into something new. Still, I know that these years at UMass Lowell will remain among the most precious of my life. Even if I forget some faces or moments, the lessons and emotions will stay with me forever.
Lessons Learned (and Still Learning)
Looking back, I realize I’ve done more silly, spontaneous things in college than in the rest of my life combined — and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll probably do a few more before graduation too.
But I’ve come to see that what matters most isn’t the regret of what we didn’t do — it’s the nostalgia of what we did. So, to anyone still in their college years:
- Create memories.
- Make friends.
- Focus on your studies.
Because nostalgia feels a lot better when you’re building your future surrounded by people you love, rather than wishing you had done more when the moment was still yours.
Moving Forward
As I enter the final stretch of my undergraduate journey, I’m learning that the end doesn’t mean it’s too late to change or improve — it’s never too late. There’s still time to grow, to course-correct, and to chase the goals that once felt distant.
Each day left before graduation is another opportunity to take a step toward the person I want to become. The strive for greatness doesn’t begin after the diploma — it begins now, in the choices I make, the habits I build, and the effort I’m willing to give.
So as I prepare for what’s next, I’m choosing to move forward with intention, determination, and hope. When I walk across that stage to receive my diploma, I want to do so knowing that I didn’t just finish college — I became more of who I was meant to be.
“Cherish the now — because someday, it’ll be what you look back on with a smile.”