On the eve of my senior year of college at Fordham University, I look back nostalgically on the unforgettable memories of the past three years, and ahead with uncertainty, but nonetheless excitement, for the unwritten pages of my future.
For me, like many of my peers, going away to college gave me my first taste of freedom. It was the first time I was “on my own” — independent from my parents’ rules. It was an exciting, yet challenging time of transition, as I navigated new responsibilities and freedoms.
When I consider my college experience thus far, I see it as the time where I grew up a little. I found my best friends, I found myself, I realized (sort of) what I want to do with my life, I cried over boys and stayed out until 3 a.m. and made memories — as cliché as it sounds, that will last a lifetime. Come next year, as I find myself a college graduate, a real person — an adult, I will, and always will, look back on these four years as the best years of my life.
“You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You’ll never remember class time, but you’ll remember the time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don’t have. Drink til’ sunrise. The work never ends, but college does."
These words are American musician Tom Petty’s thoughts on college life. While this quote should not be taken literally — unless you want to sabotage your future, there is truth within its, at first glance, reckless message. The main idea I gather from Petty’s two cents is that college is short. Have fun — live a little while you can.
These four years are truly too short to be spent worrying. Be a little irresponsible. All those Tuesday nights spent at Tinker’s as a freshman, countless drink-ups at Mugz, emptying countless beer pitchers as Mr. Brightside blasts through the speakers, 2 a.m. Bellini’s pasta pizza (the holy grail of drunk eats), parties at places my parents would call “trap houses," chasing shots of bottom shelf liquor with a gold Four Loko. Maybe I missed a few 8:30 philosophical ethics classes due to one too many tequila shots the night before at Howl. OK, so I know a little less about Kan t— hopefully this doesn’t set me too far back in life. Pre-games, dorm dance parties, China Wine and movie marathons. That time that we “spring breaked” a little too hard and came back broken, broke and fearing a lawsuit against us. These are the memories I will always cherish.
That time I “wasted” was not wasted. School, work and preparing for the future is important. Over the course of the last few years I’ve studied, worked and managed to have fun, but it’s also important to remember that college is a time like no other. As I enter my fourth and final year of college, I’ll keep Petty’s words in the back of my mind. This doesn’t mean I’ll flunk my classes and throw away everything I’ve worked for — not at all. Instead, Petty’s words will serve as a reminder to relax, to live a little. Because, as I collect my diploma next June, and look out over Eddie’s Parade — a sea of fellow graduates of the class of 2017, clad in caps and gowns, college will be over. Life begins, as does the work. I’ll be glad I had a little fun.
