With graduation right around the corner, I have been thinking a lot about what my time at Ferris has meant to me and how it has shaped me as a person.
I have mentioned this in some of my previous op-eds, but I truly never thought I would consider Big Rapids my home. I never even thought I was going to be able to finish college because it felt like it was something I couldn’t handle or manage on my own.
While being here, I have learned so much about myself and after reflecting on the time I spent at college, I realize how special these years really have been. The ability to build connections with people who have similar interests and are of a similar age and even the sense of freedom and individuality, are all things I have definitely taken for granted.
When you’re at college, it can sometimes feel like these days are going to last forever. Sometimes, that feeling can be gruling but it can also be a breath of fresh air as well. It’s only when you get to the end that you really realize that these days indeed do not last forever, and when you take a step back, you can really see how good the times really were.
During spring break, I really started to think about this concept even more. I had been writing the op-ed that was released two weeks ago by the pool at our condo in Panama City Beach, Fla and came to the realization that this was the last time I would have a spring break.
I won’t lie, after having this thought come to my mind, I put down my laptop and told myself it would be okay to get started on my work a little later in the week.
For those who know me, it is super hard for me to drop the tasks at hand and take a break. It is especially hard for me to do things that I enjoy or rest because I constantly feel like I am getting behind and can’t shake my mind of the workload that sits at the end of relaxation.
Looking back at everything I had accomplished throughout my previous years of schooling, and also looking at the hell of a senior year I have been having, it made me feel a sense of relief and comfort to sit back, spending time with my family and new friends I had made in Florida.
For once, I wasn’t scrambling to get things done or feeling the need to reach out to section editors or reporters. I recognized how much work I have been putting in and finally figured out that it was okay for me to take some of these moments to myself.
That, to me, is what college is. A collection of moments. Moments where we can grow and reflect on the person we once were and even the person we want to become.
For me, being able to take that step back and see how much I have grown or changed over the years, while actually seeing the progress in front of me, helped me see why college has been so valuable.
Before getting into why I think college has been so valuable, I can already see people ridiculing me, saying that I needed to pay for these experiences or relationships. To that I say you’re completely right.
Sure, am I leaving school with a lot of student loans to pay off? Of course, I am, but if that is the only thing you are focusing on in your life, how much things cost you, or how much you are going to have to be paying back, I can already tell you that we value very different things.
I have made countless relationships with friends and faculty here on campus, those that I know will benefit me for the rest of my life. These connections are the reason I am still going. They are the reason I feel comfortable in my own skin and I know that I can blossom into whoever I want to be.
I have spent countless months in Big Rapids. Some have been way better than others, but I have always had this place to count on, and in some ways, I have been able to count on it more than my hometown. Even when I felt worried or anxious about coming back, I was always able to find my groove and continue working hard.
The number of opportunities I have been given here at Ferris also makes up for those times of distress. Not many people can say they have had the opportunity to cover a national championship, attend a national championship game and not to brag, but say they got to sit in the pressbox as well.
I wouldn’t have been able to visit the beautiful city of New Orleans, La for the Fall National College Media Convention, if it weren’t for my time and experience with the Torch.
My time with the Torch is another experience I am truly grateful for. Those who know me do know that I complained about my job a lot, but the truth is, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. I know that at any other university or school, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to become the leader of such an amazing, tight-knit newsroom.
For some time now, I have been saying I am ready for my final semester to be over. I think everyone who is staring down graduation is likely in the same boat until we see how quickly the time has actually gone by.
Taking that time to step back and really look at the amount of work I put in helped me realize how much I have grown as an individual. Even through all of the tough times, I don’t think I would change how my college experience has shaped who I am. I love who I am now more than I could have ever imagined.