1. Take part in a legendary tradition at your school. Almost every school has its own set of unofficial traditions that are passed down from class to class, but most students are too intimidated to give them a try. It’s your senior year ~ go find that hidden room in the library or take a photo from the dorm rooftop!

2. Go out and cheer for the team. You may not be a varsity athlete, but cheer on your school and attend a sporting event this spring. Baseball, softball, lacrosse, golf, tennis, rowing, track and field ~ the list goes on. Have you ever even taken a photo with your school mascot?

3. Participate in a school-spirited event. As one Nichols College senior put it, one of the best memories of your college years can be “getting involved.” This is your last chance to fully immerse yourself in the culture of events on your campus. Think Spring Week/Weekend or Greek events that usually take place at this time of year.

4. Have a hall reunion with everyone you dormed with freshman year. Some of you probably consider your lifelong friends the ones you met in your hall freshman year. For others, you may have lost touch along your journey the last few semesters. Get together one last time to relive the memories of when it all started. Bonus: Go check out your old dorm room.

5. Experience spring for the last time in Worcester. Now that the bitter cold is officially behind us, take advantage of the opportunity to spend some time outside, whether it be taking a walk on campus or heading out to one of the parks in town. Use the good weather as an excuse to engage in “the sense of community that Worcester has,” said Katharine Warner, of Quinsigamond Community College.

6. Try out a new restaurant. Nicolas Guerra, of Assumption College, summed up the sentiments of many seniors when he said, “I love all the restaurants in Worcester. There are literally so many fantastic restaurants to eat at. The variety of the food that is offered and the quality is unbeatable.” If you’re looking to try something new on a college student’s budget, you definitely can’t go wrong with Shrewsbury Street, but Park Avenue and West Boylston Street also have great options.

7. Get up early enough to go out for breakfast. Now that the semester is winding down, you may be desperately sleep deprived, but try to set aside one morning to step out and try one of Worcester’s fantastic diners! Sara Bovat, of Holy Cross, said, “I have come to love Worcester’s industrial charm. All of its low-key, close-knit diners offer a small-town charm in a bigger city.”

8. Find a local volunteer opportunity. Many seniors expressed their love of volunteering and giving back to the community through various events, such as Spring Break programs. If you’ve never had the opportunity to participate in such an organized event, it’s not too late. The city of Worcester has endless possibilities ~ just ask around!

9. Chat it up with a member of the freshman class. Remember how awkward and scary it felt to be a freshman your first year of college? Share some of the wisdom you’ve accumulated with an underclassman. It’s always great to have the experience come full circle.

10. Make your own bucket list. If you think hard enough, there’s sure to be a handful of things you and your friends have always said you wanted to do but have never gotten around to. Now’s the time! The best memories are usually built from the simplest of activities, so don’t be lazy ~ get out there and get to it!

Special thanks to all of the seniors from Worcester colleges and universities that participated in the surveys used for the creation of this article.

By Erin Cornell