As my last semester at CSU began, I was met with excitement and uncertainty.

For the first time, in a long time, I do not know where I will be taking my next steps. Even choosing to move to Fort Collins to study at CSU when I was 18-years-old was an easy choice and transition for me.

I am making moves to answer my own questions and ease the stress. I am researching employment opportunities, revising resumes to improve my candidacy and organizing my portfolio content. I am seeking advise from my professors, parents, peers and, of course, Team Social.

Despite these efforts, I’ve made four promises to myself to get through my final semester:

1. I Promise I Will Utilize CSU’s Career Resources

Thankfully, CSU has set up resources and connections for students to find success throughout their entire CSU career. I promise myself that I will seek advise from the Career Center. Anything from resumes to interviews to job fairs. Not only do they provide advise and opportunities, but they have a job database accessible to students, called Handshake, to connect employers with students.

Something I have had to remind myself is that it is ok to seek out advise and help, instead of trying to figure it all out on my own. The resources CSU has provided make asking for help easier.

2. I Promise I Will Not Lose Confidence in Myself

With this process, it is not hard to lose confidence in your skills, knowledge and abilities, especially considering the critiques and rejection that are bound to come along.

My mom has always told me to “put my nose to the grindstone and push through whatever comes my way” and that is exactly what I will do.

I will take in critiques and use them to make improvements, but I will not let it get me down or set my bar too low. I know my strengths and abilities and I will not lose confidence in those.

3. I Promise I Will Take my Capstone Class Seriously

As a journalism student, I am taking JTC 460 as a capstone class for my last semester. The purpose of this class is to prepare students to find employment by refining resumes, cover letters and portfolios. I could just skate by in this class and end the semester with an A or B, however, that would only hurt myself and set me back.

I promise to take advantage of this course to set myself up for job searches, interviews and employment.

4. I Promise to Enjoy my Final Semester

With all the seriousness and stress that comes along with this process, I need to remind myself to enjoy my last semester at CSU. After all, my time at CSU is only going to be four years of my life and I need to take advantage of the last three months I have here.

CSU has not only given my an education and opportunities, but it has given me friendships and an atmosphere that I will likely find no where else.