Currently I find myself packing for my senior year of college. The final of my four years at the place that has become my second home. It seems like only yesterday I was doing this for the first time and anxiously awaiting move-in day. In my time at Coker I have come to realize that those of us fortunate enough to spend our college years in Hartsville have found something truly special. As I reflect on my first three years I have some thoughts to share with the class of 2020 as they begin their Coker journey. So to the newest members of the Coker family,
Coker is truly a family. We have a unique community in which literally everyone knows everyone. This can make the transition from home to school so much less intimidating. We as the upperclassmen cannot wait to welcome you into this fold.
Coker will lead you to paths you would have never envisioned for yourself but that bring you immense happiness (aka that History double major I picked up last year). You will learn more than you could have imagined both in and out of the classroom. Your courses will be challenging but your professors will be right there with you every step of the way to ensure your success. They will be hard on you but you will thank them for it someday.
I hope along the way you will embrace every side of Coker. In particular, I hope that you participate in all the quirky things that make Coker so unique. Go to COW days, embrace your commissioner family, go nuts at Bandfest. Enjoy every moment because your four years will fly by and when you reach my position and are about to do these things for the last time you will be so thankful you made the most of your time.
I hope you make friends that last a lifetime. I hope you work for whatever you want in life and that you allow Coker to be a platform to reach those dreams. I hope that in your time at Coker you allow yourself to see the opportunities Coker has afforded you.
I get a little emotional when I think about the future and graduation. I am not yet ready to leave Hartsvegas and the home I have found there. I am so thankful I still have one more round. There are many things I wish I had done differently my first year. I wish I had tried harder in my classes. I wish I had spent more time participating in traditions. I wish I had went to all of my family programs. I wish I would have joined more organizations. I am at peace with what I have accomplished so far as a Cobra and what I know this year will bring. I only hope that you come to love Coker as much as I do and realize that your time here will go faster than you think. Try to soak it all in.
Go Cobras.
