Dear Michigan State University,
As I watch some of my closest friends who I have met throughout my time here at MSU graduate, I found myself reflecting of the past three years I have had the privilege to call your campus home and think about the future with my one semester left here in East Lansing. We have had our highs and lows (just like the football team) but I wouldn't trade any of those moments for the world.
I came here in the Spring of 2016 as a bright-eyed and naive freshman. I planned on doing college at MSU the same way my Mom had done during her time here. I was going to be in her sorority, 4.0 every class, party all the time, have a lot of friends, and be the best Spartan to ever walk along the Red Cedar.
Needless to say, those freshman ambitions soon vanished after a month here. While I found out pretty quickly my Mom and I would not have identical college stories when it came to our time at MSU, I never once questioned if I belonged here. I
was born a Spartan! This is my dream school and when I got the "You're A Spartan" packet, it was just confirming what I already knew in my heart. Just because my experience here went differently than planned, does not mean I am disappointed by any means. In fact, I am pleasantly surprised by the turn it took.
As a new senior looking back on my time here, it's hard to believe it's almost over. Three years I have been lugging my bags back and forth to East Lansing every fall.
While I won't miss dying of heat stroke in the dorms/my apartment during the first month of the fall semester, I will miss watching all the new freshman arrive with all the hope and excitement I did when I first got here. I will miss waking up early on Saturday mornings to party with friends before a football game.
I will miss my annual Spartan T-Shirt I get with my student football tickets. I will miss trips to the Dairy Store and trying the new flavors with my best friend. I will miss sitting in the student section at Spartan Stadium (especially during the Michigan game). I will miss sitting by the Red Cedar outside of Wells Hall or under Beaumont Tower taking it all in. I will miss the craziness that is Halloween on MSU's campus. I will miss walking around campus during the first snowfall of the year. I'll miss trying out the new shops that pop up on Grand River after a stressful day of classes.
Honestly, it will be hard to say goodbye to MSU in the fall but while it might not be as often as it currently is, I will always be back. MSU taught me a lot about myself so why wouldn't I return to the place that I found myself at? After all, you are one of my homes now.
I was never popular during my time here, but I met so many cool people. I rushed but decided Greek Life wasn't for me. I wanted friends so badly that I thought the only way to make friends was being in a community like Greek Life.
I discovered this was false, and met some of my best friends by actually interacting with people in class, going to parties, joining clubs, and meeting my friend's friends. Some of these people became friends who eventually became my family.
Others, while their time was brief in my life, taught me to have fun in the moment and always put yourself out there to meet new people. Thank you for introducing me to a variety of people who I would have never met if I did not come here.
It's been a great three and a half years here, and I will miss a lot of things when I leave here in December.
Some of the things I won't miss are: missing the CATA bus, how full the library gets during finals week, the expensive Uber rates, the Starbucks line at Wells Hall, all the high schoolers who eat at Brody Caf, trecking cross campus in 5 inches of snow, driving around campus, 8am classes, almost getting run over by the international students in their fancy cars, the liberal biasness in general around campus, the Wells Hall preacher, PACE parking tickets, pulling all-nighters to write a James Madison paper, and not being able to go into the football trophy room at Skadalaris Center.
While I won't miss these things, there are plenty of things I will miss.
I love you Michigan State University. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to grow and evolve as a person as well as giving me the honor to call myself a Spartan for life. You have been the only school I have ever attended that I actually woke up every day thankful to be able to attend.
Thank you for the friends, memories, opportunities, jobs, and challenges you have presented me with as a part of being a student here. I will not take my last semester here for granted. I can't wait to be a Michigan State alumna and I can't wait to show the world what a Spartan can do.
As always, GO GREEN and GO WHITE!
Love,
A Fellow Spartan