Welcome to Challenge Accepted

As I embark on my last semester at Fordham, I am filled with the usual senior feelings of excitement for what the future holds, more so, anxiety for what the future holds, and most prominently, nostalgia. As I think back to my freshman year, I think about everything I wanted to accomplish as an undergrad student. Some items on the list weren't so much of a "check-off" item but something that would eventually happen, such as: making a solid friend group, adjusting to college life, trying to grow as a person, and not having regrets when graduating.  As I look back, I do feel that I was able to complete many of those, but there seems to be something more.

I feel that these small goals are what made college such an enjoyable experience. Setting challenges ahead of me, wanting to complete them, knowing I had four years to grow.  All of that made college seem like a place where you can do anything you want, as if you're invincible, and made it a time to look forward to. However, throughout my senior year, I've seen every passing week, day, even hour as a step closer to the inevitable final death march, as if my diploma is a death ticket. I've even gone so far as calling graduation the "G" in my house and forbidding its use, even worse than a mother who's just heard her 3 year old son say "stupid" for the first time. But as I think back to freshman year Drew, is this really what he would've wanted? Is this something that I'll regret after graduation? Not being able to truly enjoy these final months because of fear for what lies after graduation.

So, for my final semester, and possibly longer, I've challenged myself to learn or teach myself something new every week.  This way, I'll have the same aspirations as freshman year and will look forward to each coming week. Some weekly challenges will be learning to snowboard, to play the guitar, and many more. Take a trip with me through exploration nation as I successfully or embarrassingly fail at taking on a new skill and experience each and every week. But graduation will still be the "G" word, so don't come near me with that type of dirty sailor talk. 

Like the great Barney Stinson once said, "Challenge Accepted!"