Since my freshmen year here, my unofficial spot has been the leather couch in the Fitz. No matter what is going on in my life, I have tried to carve out at least an hour a week to sit there and just relax. I do homework there, I relax there, and I managed to cross off an item off my bucket list by taking a nap there.
During a recent all-nighter, I looked at my friend and said that I needed to rest my eyes. I went to the couch and sat down for ten minutes. All year long, I’ve been going through and doing bucket list items without much regard to things I’ve been doing all along. Instead of having months to sit on the couch, I have days. I have a limited amount of time to enjoy Sandwich Master, to yell at the geese and occupy the journalism lab (#OccupyJLab, #Fitz5Ever), and I suddenly find myself asking where the time went.
So much has happened over the last few months. I’ve gotten to know so many people whom I could only pick out of a crowd until this year.
One of my favorite quotes comes from the series finale of One Tree Hill; “One day you’re seventeen and planning for someday and, then, quietly, and without you ever really noticing, someday is today.” I never expected the last four years to go by so quickly, or for so many people to have such a profound affect on my time here. My parents have supported me through whatever I have chosen to do here. Also, so many of my professors have encouraged me to try new things, but I have to single out three in particular: Phyllis Zrzavy has been my adviser since day one here and has always encouraged me to look outside the box. Paul Bush pushes me to be the best I can be and then take it a step further. It doesn’t matter if I’m in class with him or not, Bill Costa constantly expects the best from me and is another constant source of encouragement. Hillary, no one can make me laugh quite like you. You are a character in the best way possible. Liz L, you are one of the strongest people I know and I am so glad I met you. Rachel, I hope you love the Camino and that senior year is fantastic. Being in the Fitzwater Center has also allowed me to meet some of my favorite people in the world. Zach, I don’t know how I would have made it through this year without you. You’re a true ally. Brett, I think I can speak for us both when I say that I did not expect us to be friends when I met you last year. You’re one of the most headstrong, optimistic people I know. Keep chasing the dream, sunshine. Liz C, the looks we’ve exchanged during key moments says it all. You’ll do great wherever you wind up next year. Val and Amelia, we first met during a particularly fierce FPTV-Pierce Arrow rivalry, but there’s no one I would have gone through these last four years with. Amelia, I can talk to you about anything. Val, you keep me sane when things are upside down and backwards. I love all of you.
I wish nothing but the best of luck to next year’s PMG. I’m sure you’ll all do great! These four years of your life go by quicker than you could ever imagine. Make it count.
Jen Connors
Be First to Comment