Today I was supposed to be walking across the stage to Pomp and Circumstance in the Breslin Center to receive my diploma. Instead, I’m quarantined at home with my loved ones. Although my time at Michigan State University has come to end, COVID-19 can’t come close to putting a damper on my experience as a Spartan for the past 4 years.
During the past few years, I’ve loved, I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve cheered (Go Green!), and just about everything in between. From being a clueless freshman who didn’t know how to navigate the large cafeterias, to a 22 year old graduate with loads of experience in my field, I’ve grown into an entirely new person.
Linton Hall, home of the College of Arts and Letters
My final assignment as an undergraduate was to write a letter to myself, reflecting on my college experience. Here are a couple excerpts from that letter:
I’m definitely proud of how far I’ve come since my freshman year. These past four years have been a test and a blessing in one. I am so grateful for my time at MSU because I’ve simply just grown so much… I’ve learned that my passion lies within creating accessible and beautiful experiences for all kinds of people to use. I’m lucky enough to be one of those people that is actually passionate about their major.
I will miss the unexpected challenges that some classes bring, I’ll miss in class discussions (those are always my favorite!), I’ll miss football games, my college routine, going for walks around campus, and relaxing by the Red Cedar. I won’t miss homework and gen eds, and the stress of scheduling classes. But I will definitely miss all those amazing moments where you think you’re going to hate something, and end up loving it. This happened to me with a couple classes that I had to sign up for, I thought for sure they’d practically be my demise, but they were some of my favorite challenges and have opened my eyes to so many new things. I’ll miss learning in a classroom setting. I’ll miss a lot. What can I say, I absolutely love to learn and because of this I could see myself going to grad school at some point in my life. But for now, I’m going to take it one day at a time and see where life takes me.
These personal and professional experiences have, I hope, prepared me for a successful career. Now, because I have some experience with balancing personal issues and professional issues, I think that can help me live a more balanced life. Meaning, I’ll be happier at my job and do better at my job because of this. Although “Work Life balance” is a buzzword these days, it doesn’t diminish the fact that it is extremely important! It's definitely hard to sum up what my college experience meant to me but if I had to, I would say being a member of the Spartan community has and will always motivate me to push myself and Reach Higher.
Thank you, MSU, for giving me a place to explore my beliefs, my passions, and interests. Although there have been tough times in the past, and will be more in the future, this experience has given me the background I need to be a resilient, dedicated, positive individual who always look to brighter days. During this emotional time, I have my community to look back on to give me strength and motivation to keep pushing forward. I’m excited and so proud to be a part of the Class of 2020!
Thank you to my wonderful Experience Architecture professors for inspiring me to become the best inclusive, creative designer I can be. Thank you to my roommates for teaching me something new every year. And lastly, thank you to my parents for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to go to a school as great at MSU.
Cheers to the Class of 2020, and as icon Elle Woods would say, “We did it!”
