Senior Farewell: Chelsie Merone, Opinion Editor
I don’t know how many times my brother and sister told me to appreciate every day of college because it’s the time to go nuts, to make mistakes, and to find out who you want to be. They warned me constantly that it flies by – that before I knew it I would be putting on my cap and gown and walking across that stage.
Well, here I am, four years later and it’s time to graduate.
Most people will be sad, or horrified, at the idea of leaving a place that we all have come to think of as a second home; you get used to seeing the same people every day, going to the same classes, and frequenting your favorite off campus bars or hangouts. Most people will try and hold onto the last few weeks, or even days, and hope that it’s all a bad dream, but then there are those of us who will go out with a bang – because we know after this, it’s time to grow up and be who we are meant to be.
So really, this farewell address isn’t for me, this isn’t for my fellow graduates and it isn’t for the administration…this is for all of you HPU students who I’m leaving behind as I head out into the world.
I had my time here, and I loved every minute of it, but now it’s your turn.
As a writer I have found that you can only be great at what you do if you have something to say; and you can’t have something to say if you don’t have experiences to back you up. So my parting words of wisdom to you are to get out there and live!
Make mistakes.
Find your voice, and then use it.
Don’t be afraid of failure – it’s a chance to reinvent yourself.
Take risks and be bold.
Stand up for what you believe.
Be kind and be patient – you never know who you will need help from some day.
Challenge yourself.
And above all else, do as much as you can, as often as you can.
With experience comes strength, wisdom and my favorite…bragging rights. So go off and enjoy the rest of your time at HPU. Use it as your opportunity to try news things and make a fool of yourself. You’ll figure out where you’re going eventually, but until then appreciate the time you have left, and don’t waste a minute of it.