The end of March is upon us, and for college students everywhere, that means a variety of things. Some of us are scrambling to study for midterms that were long forgotten during spring break. Some of us are ripping our hair out over registering from classes, pleading with our advisers to lift flags and let us into already full sections. There's a significant population of college students, though, who aren't focused on either of these issues. They're sending out resumés, calling up corporations, sending out grad school applications, and finishing up student teaching placements, all while simultaneously wishing that they were freshmen again. Yes, I'm talking about second semester seniors, who are only weeks away from walking at graduation. They alternate their weekends between crying over lesson plans (or internship reports) and blacking out downtown, screaming out the lyrics to Fat Bottomed Girls at Happy Hour. No matter how excited they are to enter the real world, they're absolutely terrified to leave the last four years of their life behind so quickly. Why would anyone want to become a grown up when they could stay in Cortland and play? All good times unfortunately must come to a close, though. This one goes out to my graduating friends in the class of 2016, who I have no idea what I will do without.
To the class of 2016,
I know we didn't spend four years together, but the last two and a half, almost three years have been pretty wild. When I moved in as a confused freshman, some of you kind of took me and the rest of my friends in when we lived down the hall. It might have been out of pity (I'm a thousand percent sure that it was, you don't have to deny it,) but it led us to meet some of the greatest people we have ever known. It's not even like you only had the details on the hottest party spots, the coolest fraternities, sororities, and club sports (okay, it wasn't the biggest thing that you did for us, but it was still kind of cool.) Some of you I met later on, and you still were able to influence me just as much as my other classmates. Whether it was through APO, working downtown, or sharing major classes, I was still able to forge a bond with great people.
You helped us to avoid making serious, life changing mistakes. When we got way too intoxicated and started freaking out over how sick we were getting, you hid us from the RAs and warned us about how we had to act responsibly. Showing us how to find the top notch spots in the library during finals week was our saving grace. When we all moved off-campus at the start of our junior year, you listened to us bitch and moan about how much we hated our landlords and hated our housemates. Coming to visit me at work and laughing at all of the freaky underclassmen was always a highlight of my shifts. Letting me cry on your couch and spend the night with you snuggled in your bed after an argument with a friend was really cool, and it's something I will never forget. Helping me craft for my fraternity events because you already did it and know that I struggle HARD with puffy paint was a blessing sent from heaven above. The countless amounts of advice on professors, concentrations, boys, outfits, and even where to buy groceries took me a long way. Our long talks during tabling and service events gave me some incredible insight on the type of person that each of you are. I wouldn't be half of the moderately successful college student that I am today without your influence and wise words (if that's what we want to call them.)
As I sit at my computer, I'm filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude, but dread as well. I know you're terrified about graduating and leaving Cortland, and trust me, I am too. It is going to be weird not sprinting down Clayton to your apartment, or bribing you to pick me up a 30 rack because my Pennsylvania license is somewhere in the bottom of a landfill. Trips to Wendy's aren't going to be the same without you screaming about how much you hate lesson plans and how block is bringing you down. Waking up at 5:50AM and watching you buy graduation tickets was bittersweet. Even listening to you talk about your entry level job offer that you received made me anxious. I don't want you to leave me, but I know you can't stay here forever. Just know that whenever you want to take a break from the real world, my apartment door is open. I'll have all of the queso and pretzel crisps in the world, and it'll be like you never really left me. Although you'll be far in distance, you'll never be far from my heart.
Get out there and go chase your dreams, but remember: Cortland will always be here to welcome you home (yeah, I stole that from J.K. Rowling, but it fit well.)
With love,
Rocky
P.S. - Can we stop at Varsity Liquors really quick?
