10 Things I Already Miss About FGCU After Graduation
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Things I Already Miss About FGCU, Less Than A Year After Graduation

FGCU has shaped me into the young adult that I am today and I thank it for all of the wonderful memories and friends it has given me.

Zachary Kyle Winograd
Aug 19, 2018
The Narrative
1197
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmd_WFbHc3_/
@fgcu / Instagram

So, it's been three and a half months since I've graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University and not a day does by that I don't miss my alma mater. Looking back at it, I had some of the most defining moments of my life at FGCU: my first kiss, my first real date, my first car accident, etc. FGCU has shaped me into the young adult that I am today and I thank it for all of the wonderful memories and friends it has given me. Here's a look back at the 10 things I miss most about FGCU, I get teary eye'ed just looking at it.

1. Chick-fil-A at the Cohen Center.

I'll never forget walking into the Cohen Center after a long morning of classes and getting a whiff of the heavenly scent that is Chick-fil-A. It always had my back when I had no food back at the dorm and I was craving something religious and potentially homophobic. Even though our Chick-fil-A was an express outlet, it still kept student's bellies full of waffle fries and chicken nuggets.

2. My amazing professors.

Because of the small size of the English department, I had many of the same professors and classmates for several of my classes. All of my professors were incredibly smart, inspiring, and insightful when it came to teaching us about classic British literature or manuscripts from the Medieval era. I always felt comfortable coming to them with my problems or any questions I had about my papers or tests. I really look up to them and aspire to be like them one of these days.

3. Being able to park on the other side of campus and still get to my classes on time.

So, it's pretty much well known that FGCU is a very small school. It takes me 15-20 minutes to walk from one side of campus to the other. The smallness of the campus was really comforting to me since big campuses can be really overwhelming. Also, it helped me meet a lot of my good friends since I see the same people almost every day in the halls and in my classes!

4. Community involvement at FGCU.

FGCU required students to get 80 hours of community service in order to graduate, and honestly, I did them with much enthusiasm. Nothing was better than giving back to the community that already had given so much to us at a school. It was always so heartwarming to see how thankful people were for our help, making me want to help them even more.

5. Exploring the area surrounding FGCU.

it was always fun to go out with my friends off campus for a night on the town. We always found ourselves walking the streets of downtown Fort Myers or seeing how the other half lives in Naples. There was always something fun and interesting to do around FGCU, we never had to go far in order to have a great time.

6. Late nights at my friends' dorms.

Because the dorms were relatively close to one another at FGCU, seeing my friends was super easy. Nothing was better than spending a late night at my friend's dorm, playing MarioKart and having deep conversations about the world. It was even better when food was involved.

7. The nature of FGCU.

Alright, so I admit: I'm not the biggest fan of nature. The last place you'd find me is waist deep in a cypress dome, sloughing through the murky water while avoiding any and all snakes and/or alligators. But, that's exactly where I found my self at FGCU. FGCU gave me a new appreciation for nature and the many services it provided our world. Whenever I do anything in my daily life, I try my best to act sustainably and take the environment into consideration before I do anything that could potentially be damaging to it.

8. The leadership of FGCU.

Our leaders at FGCU were always involved on campus and were aware of everything going on at all times. They were there in times of tragedy and times of happiness. They always put their students first and looked for ways to make the campus a better place to be.

9. The sense of community at FGCU.

Because our school was so small, it felt like everyone knew everyone. Students were always there for each other, even if they were. Whether it be telling them about an open parking space in one of the parking garages or offering some advice on which professors to take, we were always in this college experience together.

10. My friends.

Most of all, I miss the friends that I made at FGCU. Growing up, I didn't have many friends due to me being bullied a lot. I thought that I wouldn't have a lot of friends at FGCU either, but that turned out to be false. I made a plethora of wonderful friends at FGCU, some who stuck with me through all four years. It's so comforting to know that I have a whole network of friends I can reach out to whenever I feel lonely in the dark and cold world that is adulthood.

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
campuses
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

Siena College
18316
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
small towns
Relationships

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you.

University of New Haven
296438
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Smith College
91759
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
waitlisted
Swoon

Navigating the Talking Stage: 21 Essential Questions to Ask for Connection

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

National Writers Society
154216
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
single life
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

Marist College
69383
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Trending Topics

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments