There’s a line from my favorite film, ‘500 Days of Summer,’ that always finds its way back to my mind.

“Most days of the year are unremarkable. They begin, and they end, with no lasting memories made in between.”

That’s why now, as I venture into my last 100 days of college, I want to create memories that will linger past summer—something I’ll remember, something that will last forever, like a greeting card.

So, here are the small things I want to do before summer ends:

1. Spend my mornings beneath the trees, even if it means waking up early like I have 7:30 a.m. classes again.
2. Sit in my favorite spot on campus and think back on all the times I’ve had with people, replaying them in my head over and over again, even if I look a little crazy.
3. Walk aimlessly through the halls that I’ve probably passed a hundred times and notice the things I might have missed. 
4. Write goodbye letters to the people who I’ve spent summers with.
5. People-watch (Freedom Park would be a great place).
6. Make a playlist that sounds like my last summer in college—one I’ll surely cry to (The Smiths is a non‑negotiable).
7. And finally… tell him how I really feel, before these days slip away (Hoping I won’t end up like Tom).

Because this summer isn’t just about the places I go or the things I do. It’s about the people who make it remarkable.

And he is a part of all of that.

I love his smile. I love it when he fixes his hair mid-conversation. I love that he learned my favorite songs. I love his silly dad jokes that somehow—ironically—make me laugh. I love that he always listens when I talk. And most of all, I love how he looks at me, and suddenly, it feels like anything is possible. 

In these last 100 days, I don’t want to just exist.

I want to feel.

I want to remember.

I want this summer, my last summer, to be filled with the kind of love that makes life feel worth it.

So today, I might actually believe in Santa Claus again.

Maybe in true love too.

Because now, it’s official. My last 100 days have begun.

- Phoemella Jane Balderrama

(Illustration by Iya Maxine Linga/FEU Advocate)