Coming to an end...

by Beth Tedeschi
Exchange Staff           

There are places I remember all my life,
Though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain.
All these places have their moments
Of lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I loved them all.
     -The Beatles

     Twenty nine days… if you are a senior then you understand the significance of this number.  Graduation, which is a measly four weeks away, is an event that is being regarded with feelings of trepidation and excitement.  If you are a senior, are you experiencing the oh so unfavorable "squirrel in your stomach" syndrome? 

     I have talked to people whose stress towards this monumental event stems from a variety of different things.  A catalyst for one friend in particular is the large collection of fines from Campus Safety in parking tickets that has landed her hundreds of dollars in ticket debt!  We have all felt the wrath of this, and I am sure that I am not the only one that thinks these people need to take this aspect of their job a little less seriously… who are we hurting by stopping in a "non"-student spot for five minutes?  Honestly... (Although the campus safety department does do a magnanimous job around campus, so thanks guys, I know dealing with the over-excited seniors must be tough).  One member of the residential department referred to the seniors one night as "caged animals…"  saying it looks like we have been locked up for ages and have finally been set free.  And why not?  With the real world lurking around the next corner why not play a bit on the wild side?  (I'm not condoning irresponsible behavior…. Unless of course you do it responsibly; o)

     With only several weekends left to spend time with the people you have gotten to know so well over the past four years, why not plan big?  Senioritis has been affecting many of us; the term has been brought up in many conversations regarding sleeping through classes, stumbling your way through a classroom in the a.m. with the smell of beer from the night before seeping through your pores (or is it in the clothing you haven't managed to change yet?  We all know the sort of nights I'm talking about…let it rain), or missing homework deadlines and procrastinating to the extreme with end of the semester projects.  These are important… but how many of us seniors feel like these things are going to matter a couple months from now when we have high tailed it out of here, dirt kicking up from our feet as we race like the road runner into our next adventure.  For the "over-achievers" (I say that lovingly), good for you!  You have obviously been given an antidote or are immune to senioritis.  Luckily I have been plagued by it, but have still managed to do well in my classes, pheww!  Those of you who aren't so lucky, listen to a great point, "In a couple months you're going to wish you had a class to go to."  A friend said that the other day, I think she made a valid point.  So truck on.

     Are resumes done?  Applications sent out?  Recommendations written?  Plans made?  If you answer no to one or all of these questions, don't worry.  You're not the only one.  The next few weeks is ample time to get these tasks completed… start asking your professors now for recommendations, start working on your resume… there is a career placement center on campus that is here to help you, I suggest that any of us who need help try and take advantage of these resources. 

     I am excited to see where I end up say 10 years from now… I have extremely high hopes and aspirations for what I want to accomplish, but becoming a well known writer and winning that Nobel Prize is going to be tough, tough work.  I know I have a lot of competition, some of which comes from the amazing writers I have had the pleasure and privilege to study with here in my English classes.

     I also wonder where my friends will end up.  People I have gotten to know so well; shared laughs and cried with, made bad decisions with (hehe).  I think there are a few moments in your life where complete and utter sappy-ness and corny-ness are completely acceptable.  Graduation, this time we are living in right now, is definitely one of those moments.  The next will be what?  Weddings, big career moves, babies?  Sounds so grown up!  I feel like this is my opportunity to say I love you to the people who have mattered (you know who you are)… I will miss you!  Whatever name you know me by (Beth, Brewski, Bruce Moose, Bethie, Teddie) I want you all to know, I'll never forget you.  Be real, be smart, be happy, be healthy, be you. 

     (To all those underclassmen who read this blog, I want you to take advantage of the time you have!  Do good work and have great times...they'll be over before you know it.)