21 Bucket List Items For Graduating College Students

21 Bucket List Items For Graduating College Students The idea of a bucket list - referring to things someone should do before he or she kicks the bucket - doesnt just have to apply to older folks. Students, too, can make their own bucket list to make sure they get in every last memory and bit of fun before tossing their caps at graduation. Here are some things to consider adding to yours: 1. Confess a Crush   Scary? Sure. But if you think youll regret not telling a certain someone how you feel about them before you both part ways after graduating, its time to go for it. After all, even if it doesnt go well, you wont have to really see them again, right? 2. Take Pictures of People Who Have Made a Difference in Your College Life   When do you think back on your years at school, who mattered most? A certain professor or two? Several friends in particular? Maybe a mentor or administrator? Even if youre convinced that youll stay in touch with these folks for years, take a picture anyway. You can laugh at how young everyone looked when youre old and gray and reminiscing about all the silly things you did in college. 3. Thank Your Favorite Professor Chances are one professor, in particular, stands out for the influence he or she had on you during your time in school. Tell them thanks before you leave. You can thank them in person, write an email or even leave a small thank-you note (or maybe a gift) for them on graduation day. 4. Try Food You Never Did Somewhere on Campus If youve never tried a certain kind of food on campus, gather your pride and dig in before you graduate. Youll get a good experience exposing yourself to something new and - you never know - you just might end up liking it.   5. Buy Yourself a Graduation Gift  From the Bookstore Sure, your funds are probably even tighter than normal around graduation time. But pinch your pennies and reward yourself with a gift, no matter how small, from the bookstore. A simple keychain, license plate holder, bumper sticker, business card holder  or travel bag will remind you for years to come about one of your greatest accomplishments so far. 6. Thank the People Who Helped Pay Your Way If scholarships, your parents and/or others helped pay your way through school, make sure to let them know how much you appreciate their support. One suggestion: Include a picture of you in your cap and gown on graduation day in a simple but heartfelt thank-you note. 7. Write Something for the School Paper You may be shy, you may not think of yourself as a good writer and you may have never written for the paper before. But youll be graduating soon - meaning youve succeeded at college and have important advice to share with your peers. Ask the editor if you can make a submission, and take a few hours to put something together that passes along your wisdom. 8. Take a Picture of Yourself and Your Room It may seem silly now, but how fun will it be to look back at how you looked and what your room/apartment looked like five, 10 or 20 years from now? Dont let something that you see every day now slip away with time. 9. Go to a Part of Campus Youve Never Been Before Even if youre at the smallest of schools, head to a corner of campus youve never been before. You just might get a new perspective of how things look and come to appreciate a side of your school that feels brand new just as every other part of it is feeling old. 10. Go to a Sports Event Youve Never Been To   Football and basketball games may be all the rage on your campus, but try something new. If its a gorgeous day, grab some friends and some snacks and go watch a softball or Ultimate Frisbee game. Its a great way to relax and get a new college memory. 11. Go Swimming in the Campus Pool Many students forget theres a campus pool - or are too self-conscious to use it. But these pools can be huge, gorgeous and a lot of fun. Grab your suit, leave your insecurities behind and go have a ridiculously fun game of  Marco Polo  with some friends. 12. Have Your Favorite/Most Influential Professor Sign a Book They Wrote When you think of which professor has been the most brilliant during your time in school, one or two undoubtedly stand out from the rest of the crowd. Have them sign a copy of their latest book before you graduate for a great keepsake youll cherish for years. 13. Participate in a Campus Tradition Being tossed into a fountain on your  birthday? Going on a midnight excursion with your  fellow sorority or fraternity members? Make sure to participate in at least one campus tradition before you graduate for a lasting, irreplaceable memory. 14. Attend an Event on Something You Know Nothing About You went to college to learn new things, right? So head on over to an event youd normally  never  consider attending. You dont have to do anything other than listening and learn. 15. Treat Yourself to a Nice Meal Off Campus You may be so used to bad muffins in the campus coffee shop and the same dishes in the dining hall that heading off campus for a nice meal seems completely out of the realm of possibility. Chances are, however, that you can ask around and find a super yummy, affordable place that will provide you  with a great meal  and a great memory. 16. Vote in Student Government Elections OK, sure, you may have thought they were boring or unimportant before. But now that youre graduating, you have a pretty serious responsibility to leave behind a strong legacy and support system for the classes that will follow you. Honor them by voting  for student leaders  who you think will maintain the standards other students set for you when you first arrived on campus. 17. Go to a Professional Sports Game Off Campus If you live in a big city and have never been to a professional sports game, now is the time to go! After all, how silly would you feel if you had to confess, for years and years after you graduate, that even though you lived in, say, Boston for 4 years, you never saw a  Red Sox  game? Grab some friends and head out. 18. Go to a Cultural Event in Town Even if you live in what you consider to be the smallest of small towns, theres a culture there that cant be replaced and that youll probably miss once youre gone. Go to a poetry slam, a performance, a county fair or anything else being put on in town and absorb all you can before you move somewhere new. 19. Go to a Museum in Town You never know what history your college town has to offer. Challenge yourself to learn a little more before you graduate by hitting a museum in town. It could be an art museum, a history museum, or even something that speaks to the unique identity of your city. Even better: Use your  student discount  for admission. 20.  Volunteer Off Campus Even if you dont interact with people off campus all that much, the community that surrounds your school has helped make your experience possible. Give back a little by volunteering for a one-day, one-month, one-semester, or one-year commitment to an off-campus organization that supports your own values and priorities, too. 21. Do Something That Scares You If you look back at your college years and realize you played it safe, you might not be pushing yourself  out of your comfort zone  enough. Take a deep breath and challenge yourself to try something new and scary. Even if you regret it, youll learn something about yourself.