You never truly realize the significance of a moment until it’s passed and you usually don’t appreciate what you’ve got until it’s gone. College is a perfect example this: you blink and you’re in the real world. So whether you’re entering your last half of college or you’re preparing for your last semester here at Iowa State, be sure to make the most of the best time of your life.

Here are a few things to remember to do during your victory lap:

1. Leave campus and explore Ames: We have a beautiful campus and Ames is one gorgeous town, so be sure to explore places you’ve never been. Life does exist outside of campus and Campustown.

2. Go somewhere where you don’t know anyone and make a new friend: This can include joining a new club, chatting someone up on central campus or even going to a party where you don’t know anyone. Just meet someone new because I’m sure you’ve been around the same people almost all four years.

3. If you haven’t yet, run for a leadership position in an organization you’re in: Not only does this look great on a resume, but also it’s truly a great experience whether you win or not. Just go for it.

4. Stand up for something: This can either be finally not letting everyone push you around, speaking your mind to a professor or even protesting against something. Just go against the apathetic stereotype of our generation.

5. Dance on a table: Now don’t get thrown out of Es Tas or anything, but if the time is appropriate or you’re at a house party go for it. Whether you’re the next Usher or the whitest kid of all time, you can blame it all on the…. juice.

6. Learn the fight song: If you haven’t had to learn it from things like Yell Like Hell or something like that, I suggest you learn it. Knowing it and listening to the Marching Band play it will really make you appreciate being a Cyclone.

7. Get a professor to teach outside one day: This goes with enjoying Ames and the campus fully; get a professor to go out on central campus on a nice day and really make class enjoyable for once. But be sure not to tell them that their class is boring, of course.

8. See campus from a new perspective: Do you remember the first time you visited campus and how amazed you were at its beauty? Now you’ve gotten so caught up in work and your routine and that you haven’t stopped to smell the roses. Give it a try and reminisce in your original love for Iowa State.

9. Pull an all-nighter just because: This one is easy and fun. It doesn’t matter what you do or what day it is, just experience nightlife a bit differently.

10. Have one epic Spring Break: Spring Break is the one thing all college students live for, and if you’re parents have been restrictive about you going anywhere, you better tell them what’s what. Go to PCB, South Padre or Cancun and really let loose before the real world.

In case you need a few electives or a good GPA booster, here are a few to check out:

1. SpCm 110: Listening. Do I need to explain? It’s a class about something you’ve done every second of every day.

2. HRI 383: Introduction to Beer, Wine and Spirits. I don’t know about you, but I’d take two credits to become well versed in this subject while pre-gaming for Mug Night.

3. KIN 164: Walking for Fitness. One credit to walk? Yes please.

4. JLMC 101: Mass Media and Society. It depends on the professor sometimes, but this class has been known to be one of the easiest courses at Iowa State. I mean it is a 101 class.