So I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of something clever or witty to say and so far I have nothing. Since I’ve procrastinated, as usual, I really just wanted to at least have some sort of final word.
Looking back on my five years at the University I wonder: Where the hell did all the time go? Just yesterday I was a shy freshman moving into Smith, and now I’m about to graduate. Exciting, right? Wrong.
I am now a grown-up, with no job, money or apartment, but at least my car is paid off.
Enough of my desperate situation to come. I want to reflect back on the good times I had here at the University. My freshman year I remember being surrounded by friends in the dorms, going to Common Grounds late at night and of course the huge fraternity parties (before they were forced to be or to appear to be dry).
My sophomore year Hawaii Club, becoming a sorority member (now former member) and starting work at Services for Student Athletes and the Emerald’s Classifieds office were all an integral part of my life. I had a lot of fun that year branching out and making a lot more friends.
During my junior year I turned 21, which meant a lot of time at The Jungle, in addition to working as a Clear Channel intern and again the Emerald. Senior year I was pretty tame compared to junior year, but I made up for it spring term. With all my friends graduating, the opportunity to go to Taylor’s and Rennie’s presented itself quite frequently. Of course I still worked at the Emerald.
This year, my last year, started I wanted to experience as much as I could. Unfortunately I didn’t know too many people here anymore. I used to remember walking to class and I would run into at least three people I knew every time. Now I walk to class and maybe see one person a day. The people I did know I made ample time to hang out. I still worked in Classifieds, but now I had a new job, that of page designer at the Emerald. Through the Emerald I have met some really great people and was able to add to my dwindling list of friends in Eugene.
Staying here late at night working also helped alleviate some of the boredom. I must say there is nothing like working with college students to the early morning – oh the interesting stories I could tell. Anyway, I am glad to have the opportunity to be a part of the newsroom, but I have also really enjoyed working in classifieds, otherwise I doubt I would’ve stayed so long. The fact is the Emerald has been a part of my life for four years and it is really going to be weird to say goodbye.
I thought it wouldn’t be hard to graduate in my fifth year because I wouldn’t have to say goodbye, but I was wrong. I’m going to miss a lot of people. I think I might even miss going to class.
Surprising, considering I’ve had such a hard time going these last years. Maybe I’m just going to miss the familiarity. The first day of class I like to refer to as “syllabus day.” When a teacher actually goes longer than the time it takes to explain the syllabus I am always surprised and caught off guard.
One thing I will not miss is homework. Over the years it has just gotten harder and more in depth. Oh, how I long for the days of Writing 121 with the stupid enthymeme assignments, or Math 111, when all you have to do is answer math questions. Now everything is about projects, presentations and in-depth papers. I guess the professors want to make sure you learned something while you were here.
Contrary to how this column may sound, I am not a slacker only interested in drinking and hanging out. I am just reminiscing about the good times and school work usually isn’t at the top of that list. There are teachers and classes that I have enjoyed a lot. For time sake, and in case nobody agrees with me, I’m not going to specifically name them. I will say to anyone not graduating: Make the most of your time here, because pretty soon you’ll be graduating, 23 (if you’re on the fifth-year plan) and an adult.