I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I decided on SUNY Potsdam in the worst, weirdest, and best of ways.

Hey Potsdam,
I suppose a letter like this was coming sooner or later. I’ve reached that point in life, and in our relationship that I really can sit back and reflect on my 4 years as a bear.
I had some of my best days and some of my worst days around your brick buildings. I had some of my biggest successes and hardest failures amongst your ivy covered walls. I have cursed your name, I have praised your name, I have wondered what my life would been like had I gone somewhere else, and I have complained about you.
I have never said thank you, though.

Thank you for the PAC.

I complained A LOT about it during my beginning years here but I got to be a part of the ground breaking ceremony, I got to sign my name to a beam currently holding the building up, and I got to be one of the first ones when it opened. Detouring around the construction for a couple years was worth it, I suppose. Whether it’s a greatly needed coffee, a delicious meal, or time to kill between classes in the lobby I’m in need of, the PAC is there for me. I can be around like-minded people who love the arts. Thank you for your commitment to the arts, and providing so many opportunities to participate in or simply experience the arts.

Thank you for the Bagelry.

While I’m on the topic, thank you for Sergi’s, Mama Lucia’s, Jernabi, The Thai place, Mong Buff, Hot Tamales, Foxy Roxy’s, Village Diner, Cantina, pizza places that deliver late at night and the 1844 House when I was feeling fancy. Thank you for Pauly, college is a good time to randomly get piercings and he's there to do it the right way and to remind us to not touch it with our dirty hands. He's put a few holes in my body. There’s tons of good food in Potsdam, which didn’t help with the freshman 15 but definitely helped my stress and happiness levels.

That being said, thank you for the good food.

SUNY Potsdam has held the title of #1 Food in the SUNY system and as college students- that's really important to us. Whether it's sweets from Cookies and Company, pasta made with love by Gerry from Mediterrano's, risking the Lehman Demon, or lunch time at Dexter's, the food is a big part of the college experience. Thanks for not letting the food be something else we complain about. It can be tough without mom to make a home cooked meal, but Gerry's pasta is a good second choice.

Thank you for my friends.

have met some of the best people in the world during my time here who have really become a part of me and a part of my life. I have made friendships through your snowy winters that will last long beyond tossing my cap into the air in front of Satterlee. Between my involvement in students groups, all the hours sitting in classes, and attending all of your hosted events I have crossed paths with thousands of people. Some I will never even know their names, but others have taken a hold of my heart and left their handprints all over it.

Thank you for the countless student groups.

Sometimes it was just because I was broke a mixer or event provided free food which was my dinner that night. Sometimes it was a place to go and bask in my passions. Sometimes it was just to be around like-minded people. I gained experience, friends, knowledge, and even leadership skills from some of them. No matter the reasons, I was always happy they exist.

Thank you for your professors.

Well, thank you for some of them. I have had the privilege of sitting in class with some of the most compassionate and knowledgeable professors. Professors that have gone above and beyond to help me, that told me opportunities, who explained and re-explained something countless times until I finally got it and professors who were there when things weren’t so great. I’ve had professors genuinely happy of my accomplishments, advise me outside of lessons on the curriculum and professors who have made me laugh when I needed it most. On the other hand, I have had less than ideal professors – and thank you for them for showing me the kind of teacher and /or leader I never want to be.

As we all leave Potsdam, we walk by Minerva one last time. We take our pictures of the ivy, of the leaves, and of Satterlee Hall. We pretend like we won’t miss it as much as we really will. The person who walks across the stage in May is definitely not the person who moved into Bowman West my freshman year. You have changed me fundamentally as a human. You were the setting of my biggest chapters in life while my plot had twist after twist. I learned a lot of lessons both in and outside of the classroom. Trudging through snow in negative temperatures made curse your name but I can now face any kind of weather.
Go bears.