Go to all the games and participate
Support your school and not just at Autzen. I didn’t go to enough games my first three years or my last one, and I’ll never be able to do it over again. If you’ve never seen the court at Matt Knight Arena during a basketball game, you’re missing out. And this doesn’t just apply to big-ticket activities. Have you ever watched a club soccer game? What about the Live Action Role Players who duke it out with cushioned weapons on campus or the Humans Vs. Zombies campaigns that go on during fall and spring?

Apply early for jobs and internships
It’s stressful when you have no plan for after graduation. I didn’t start applying for internships and jobs soon enough, and I’m feeling the weight of it now. Instead of making my mistake, accept early on that college will end and make a plan for what you’ll do when it happens. Some internships begin accepting applications as early as November for a start in June the following year.

See your friends
These people are your family when your family’s not around. See all of them as much as you can during your senior year because seeing each other after graduation will probably require a plane ticket. Sometimes something as simple as a dinner date is enough to keep you up to speed with a friend.

Enjoy It
You’ll never get to live like this again. Ever. This year will go by faster than you could ever imagine, and you’ll miss things you never thought you would. So savor the small stuff and take part in things you wouldn’t have during the past three years.

Breathe
When the reality of school finally being over and becoming a real adult sets in, remember to breathe. Then go have a beer because you’ve earned it.

If used properly, social media can be an ideal way to let friends, family and potential employers view slices of your life. However, college students don’t often think about the negative consequences of improperly (or immaturely) using social media.

A huge mistake many young adults make is neglecting to acknowledge that what happens on the Internet stays on the Internet … forever. Even once it’s deleted, someone, somewhere can find it. Myspace pictures? Yeah, they’re floating around in cyberspace. By now, that probably seems inconsequential. (Those pictures were taken in 2006!) Years from now, your “Raaaaage” album on Facebook will seem inconsequential to you, too, but people trying to hire you might disagree.

“I make a point to never have pictures taken of me with a beverage in my hand because I know it can be on Facebook,” said Sammy Thom, a University of Oregon senior.

Even if you don’t do this, at the very least, make sure your privacy settings are secure.

Facebook is the primary social media site for most college students. It’s where picture albums, statuses, location updates and links are posted. It’s where lists of favorite shows, movies, books and interests rest forgotten about. This is awesome if it’s up-to-date and appropriate. However, I’ve done some intense Facebook stalking in my day, and most profile information I’ve seen hasn’t been updated since that Myspace to Facebook switch was made.

More likely than Facebook to have inappropriate information is Twitter. It seems innocent because it has a 140-character limit and requires less brainpower than Facebook to update.

“People just don’t post continual statuses on Facebook and when I see that on my timeline it’s annoying,” said Randi Brown, a UO senior. “With Twitter, it’s just more accepted that you tweet more often. What comes with that is tweeting insignificant things.”

These “insignificant things” are often word vomit not important or clever enough for Facebook. Since older family members aren’t usually on Twitter, it also tends to be where drunken college ramblings go. No, it isn’t necessary to tweet while six shots deep, and it isn’t necessary to tweet about it the next day, either.

While using Twitter responsibly isn’t as fun, it’s better in the long run. Having a private account seems suspicious, so that’s not a viable solution. If it’s too difficult to tone down your amount of inappropriate tweeting, another option is to create two accounts: one under an alias for your friends, and one under your real name for the rest of the world.

At the end of the day, what you put on the Internet should reflect the kind of image you’re okay having others assign to you. College life has its place and we all love it, but it’s also important to remember that we’re not the only ones looking at the pictures of our habits.

“I make sure my privacy settings are pretty tight,” said family and human services major Diana White. “I would say I try to keep my Facebook and Twitter as politically correct and ‘clean’ as possible. It’s my friends’ activity that I have to worry about some days. I would like to think employers wouldn’t be too horrified, but being elected president could get dicey because of some Facebook activity.”

I stood in my teeny tiny Bean Henderson dorm room and watched as my parents and brother walked out the door. I was shocked. How could they just leave me here like this? Crying and alone and fending for myself? They were supposed to take care of me.

This was my first realization of the real world — sitting alone in my room, too shy to go out and meet my hallmates. I would walk to the door, turn around, walk back to my bed. Repeat.

With the help of my roommate, I eventually made some friends, and later that week we attended our first “real” college party. I think I wore jeans and a t-shirt. One of my friends had her hair in two braids. We had no alcohol and awkwardly lurked around the house trying to bum some beer. It might have worked better if we hadn’t looked 12.

Somehow, my braided friend got ahold of way too many PBRs. We made it back to some guy’s house where she proceeded to throw up into a water bottle and all over her striped v-neck. Unable to move her, another friend and I ended up sleeping on the floor and experiencing our first walk-of-shame back to the dorms in the morning.

Welcome to college.

My freshman year, I couldn’t imagine a time when I’d be leaving, a time when I’d have figured out college just in time to go. I suppose we all have to grow up sometime.

It’s been real, Oregon, but before I say “goodbye,” let me remind you of all the things you’d better not change.

The way Autzen looks encased in golden light right before the sun sets. The way Pre’s Trail feels after months of not running. The way Californians complain about the rain. The way campus comes alive in the springtime.

These memories don’t even begin to describe all the things I will miss about my four years at UO. That’s not to say everything was perfect, but I wouldn’t take any of it back.

Coming to school here gave me everything I was missing before. I think about what my life would be like had I gone somewhere else, and it would be lacking. Nothing makes me happier than thousands of hands making Os in the air. Or laying on rooftops. Or seeing the city from the top of Spencer Butte. Or closing Max’s. I think about all the things I never would have done. The people I never would have met. The places I never would have gone.

I think about my time at Oregon and I think about all of you. All the people who made me who I am. All the moments that made my heart speed up.

Thank you, Oregon, for everything. I’m ready to leave but it is going to be so very hard to go.

Best food to cook:

When it comes to making springtime food, it’s best to keep it simple. Complicated meals mean more time inside and less time out enjoying the sun. Here are a few yummy options to try:

(Creative Commons photo by Flickr user By TheHungryDudes)

Chicken curry salad

You’ll need:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 teaspoons water
1 chopped apple
1/3 cup chopped celery
3 tablespoons raisins
A teeny tiny bit of salt
1 cup of chicken

Combine mayo, curry and water in a bowl before adding the other ingredients. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can cook your own boneless chicken breast, but using canned chicken is much easier and saves a lot of time. It sounds gross but it really doesn’t taste any different or matter in a salad like this. Even if you’re not a huge curry fan, this is a good recipe to try because the curry flavor isn’t overpowering. It’s great to eat with pita chips, but is also tasty as a sandwich or in a pita pocket.

(Creative Commons photo by Flickr user sporkist)

Turkey burgers

You’ll need:
1 pound ground turkey
Tortilla chips
Salsa
Cheddar cheese (or your personal favorite)
Toppings (tomato, lettuce, grilled onion, avocado)

Turkey has a harder time holding together than beef, so the chips and salsa help give it a little glue. If you have a grill, use that to cook the burgers. Otherwise, it also works to broil them in the oven for about seven minutes per side.

You’re probably wondering why you would bother to make a turkey burger when you could make a perfectly good hamburger instead. The answer is simple: turkey burgers are delicious. Yet you can’t pretend it will taste the same as a hamburger because it won’t. I look at turkey burgers the same way I look at organic Pop-Tarts … they’re not real Pop-Tarts, but they still taste just as good.

McMenamins North Bank

Situated on a serene stretch of the Willamette River, this McMenamins is a relaxing spot for lunch or dinner. With a huge outdoor patio, there shouldn’t be any trouble getting a table with a view of the water. By car, it’s more than three miles from campus, but only about two miles by bike or foot. So break out your sunglasses, make a day of it and stroll over to this restaurant by the river.

Vero Espresso House

Located on the corner of 14th Avenue and Pearl Street, this quaint café is an ideal lunch spot on a sunny afternoon. There isn’t a ton of seating inside, but the patio has plenty of room to sit and chat for as long as you want. The menu isn’t expansive, but there is a fair amount of options and the sandwiches are killer.

Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen

When Papa’s comes to mind, it’s usually not because of its lovely outdoor seating but because of its cornbread, pulled pork and fried chicken. Just thinking about it is enough to put you in a food coma. But on a breezy spring night, particularly one with live music, the back porch at Papa’s is fun to sit at with good company even if you don’t order one of everything on the menu.

Taylor’s Bar & Grille

Once the weekend is over, many of us have no desire to speak of Taylor’s, let alone go there during the daytime. However, there is something oddly appealing about drinking a beer on the Taylor’s patio at 2 p.m. on a sunny day and watching everyone rush to class. If you’re not 21, order a lemonade and some bar food — it’s really just as satisfying.

Many houses and older apartment complexes are fairly relaxed when it comes to leases; the neighbors in these complexes seem more relaxed, too. However, if you find yourself living in a recently built complex, your rental company is going to be a bit tougher on the rules.

When noise complaints and parties come up during the lease discussion, it’s about the time everyone tunes out. They can’t be serious, right? Obviously we’re going to have parties. This is in University District! Who do they think we are with this no-party rule?

Well, they think you’re a tenant in the building they own, and they don’t want you to ruin it. Should you receive a noise complaint — and there’s often a neighbor waiting to call one in — you’ll be hearing from your property manager.

Rental companies don’t like to receive noise complaints or visits from police very often and will threaten to evict (or actually evict) you because of it. Upon your first eviction notice, it will mention how you violated the lease and have “x” amount of time to vacate unless you follow “y” steps. The steps usually involve writing a letter of apology and paying a fee. Once this happens, you’re out of strikes and will be evicted upon the next complaint or lease breakage.

Should you break the lease again, just talk smoothly and hope it keeps you out of trouble.

Something else to look for when signing a lease is the actual start and end dates. If you know you’ll be gone for the summer or studying abroad for part of the year, try to find a lease that accommodates this. If you can’t, start looking for a subletter as soon as possible, so that you can avoid paying rent on a unit you’re not living in.

I used to be blissfully unaware that some houses and apartments don’t have dishwashers, washing machines or dryers. Yet in my three years living off campus in Eugene, I’ve only had all three one time, and I paid a hefty rent to have them.

Not having a washing machine or dryer isn’t that big of a deal as long as there’s a laundry room in your complex somewhere, but you’ll usually have to pay about $2-$3 per load. Not having a dishwasher is worse than not having a washer or dryer, especially if you’re bad at washing dishes immediately after eating. However, if you love everything about a place except its lack of a dishwasher, get it anyway. It’s not the end of the world.

Most landlords or rental companies will not pay electric for you; it’s far more common for them to pay for water instead. Usually the only thing you’re guaranteed not to have to pay for is garbage, but even then you need to make sure. If it’s your first time living off campus, keep in mind that electricity is expensive. I’ve had some scary electric bills and they’re not fun for anyone, except EWEB.

With most apartment complexes, each unit will be given at least one parking spot, but it’s highly unlikely that there will be a spot for every tenant. Many houses have spots for a couple of cars, so that only becomes a problem if everyone in your household has a vehicle. If you end up without a spot, street parking passes are available and reasonably priced, so it’s worth looking into to avoid countless parking tickets.

The biggest thing to look out for with a security deposit is if anything will automatically be deducted regardless of the state of the unit when you vacate. Some companies deduct from the deposit to have carpets or blinds cleaned or require you to provide a receipt if you get them done yourself. Not all companies put this burden on you, so watch out for the ones that do.