Last Sunday I walked back onto campus after a long vacation – for the last time. As I walked down the hall of my dorm and greeted my friends who I hadn't seen for the last three weeks it struck me that this was the last time this group of amazing women would be within yelling distance. It wasn't until that moment that the thought finally struck home. This is my last semester of college.

And as I thought about that, I made a pact with myself. I think it's a fact that all of us who will soon be saying goodbye should take a moment to consider and, perhaps, sign so that we remember to do what really matters now.

Here it is.

I, Katie Marie McVoy, being a second-semester senior have agreed to the following terms for spending my last four months at Saint Mary's.

I will not let the stress of school take away the enjoyment of my final semester of being a grown-up kid. I will not let books and homework take away from the things I will really learn in the classroom and out of it. I will not let trying to formulate theses get in the way of letting new ideas really grow.

I will not let the small annoyances of living with my friends keep me from appreciating how important they really are to me. I will remember to tell them, every time I can, how much I have learned from them since I set foot on campus three and a half years ago. I will remember to take advantage of their company because it will not be available come next fall. Most importantly, I will remember to keep my friendships strong now, so that they will be strong always.

I will not let the fact that I am leaving and going out "on my own" make me forget that I am never alone. I will still call home to talk to my mom when I am sad and I will still ask to be Daddy's girl when boys are not nice to me. I will not let the fact that some of the world will see me as an adult prevent me from acknowledging that, sometimes, I need someone to come scare away the monsters from under my bed.

I will not let growing older force me to grow up to soon. I will still keep a picture of my dog and a teddy bear sitting on my window sill. I will continue to allow the number of stuffed animals that I sleep with increase, and I will always, always remember to watch the Smurfs whenever they are on TV.

Most importantly, I will remember that these days happen only once and, each morning, I will remember to enjoy them. These are days I will remember.

• Days to remember