Unlike the other graduating seniors, the past four years of my college career haven’t been marked by hundreds of newspaper articles or thousands of hours of journalistic work. I only joined the Comenian staff last semester. I never imagined that I would be finishing my senior year as Opinions Editor, or even with more than thirty published articles.
I initially joined the Comenian because there was something on campus I felt that I needed to write about. My plan was to give them the article and be credited as a guest reporter. But before I knew it, I was writing multiple other stories and attending every meeting. I suspect it was all part of Liz and Fatimah’s evil plan to recruit me to the staff. So, thanks guys. I’m glad I’m here.
Liz and Fatimah, you welcomed me into The Comenian staff with open arms. I was so nervous to go to a meeting last semester that I kept putting it off. Eventually, I worked up the courage to attend a meeting and both of you took me in with no hesitation. I’ll always remember your kindness and encouragement. Thank you for empowering me to write what I needed to say. I never thought I would be making new friends this late into my college career, but I’m so glad I got to know you both better.
Professor Harris, I’ll never forget how you asked me about myself and took notes on my answers during the first Comenian meeting I attended. Your care and intentionality made me feel like I belonged when I was so anxious about being there. Thank you for always encouraging me to write with passion. I will always remember all your kind words and comments. And sorry for joining The Comenian so late. If I could do it over again, I would’ve joined freshman year.
I think my freshman year self would call my senior year self crazy for publishing my thoughts for all of campus to see. I didn’t come into Moravian knowing what I wanted to do. My major was undecided until my sophomore year. I spent the first couple of months during my freshman year wanting to go home (seriously, I just read the letter I wrote myself during orientation, and I did not want to be here). I didn’t know what to do with my anxious self. But now, I’m still my anxious self. I just realized that everyone else doesn’t know what to do, either, and we’re all just figuring it out.
Eventually, I made a home here at Moravian. I made friends, declared my majors, and found a love for library work through my student worker position at Reeves Library. Thanks, Mom, for forcing me to look for a campus job during the summer before freshman year. Who knew that the girl who loved reading, learning, and solitude would find a love of libraries and want to make a career out of it? Funny how that works.
At Moravian, I took a bunch of risks I never could have imagined myself taking before. I flew for the first time ever on a Moravian trip to Europe in 2024. I explored various cities with my friends, and we got lost a lot. That alone would have terrified me in high school. I went back to Italy with Moravian last year, and worked up the courage to travel by myself to Paris to meet a friend this past spring break. I still have no idea how I did it.
As I got older, I spoke up more in class and became bolder with my work. I interned in the library and hosted events independently. I completely revamped a club, and now it’s thriving. And now I’m writing all these sappy thoughts for everyone to read. Here at Moravian, I found the courage and grit to be able to do all these things.
I guess what I’ve learned over these past four years is that everyone is making it up as they go, and it’s okay for me to do that, too. You don’t have to have everything figured out right now. I know it feels like there’s pressure on us as college students to know what our lives and careers will look like. Trust me, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. When it truly comes down to it, my only hope for myself is that I’m happy.
Go at your own pace. Do what’s right for you (within reason). Be nice to others and yourself. Take risks. Make every day count, but still allow yourself to rest. Reflecting on these past four years, that’s what I’d say to my freshman year self if I ever got the chance to talk to her. It most definitely would have saved me a lot of headaches.
At the time I’m writing this, I graduate in about two weeks. It feels like I graduated from high school last week. So, yes, it really does go by that quickly. And from what I’ve heard, so does the rest of life. I plan on making the most of it and maximizing my joy. See you later, Moravian.
