You’re probably thinking, “What makes this guy qualified to give advice and who cares what he’s got to say?” And yeah, I get it. I wouldn’t exactly call myself wise either, but just hear me out. I’ve been a CWU student for five years and now that I find myself on the way out, I figured a great way to sign off would be to share five things I’ve learned in the hope that maybe it’ll help someone else out. Who knows, maybe you’ll learn something?
- Plan Ahead
This may sound obvious, but it’s harder to do than you think. Something that I wish I had taken more seriously earlier on is making a plan for how I would end college, which sounds incredibly daunting, especially if you’re just starting out. My advice there would be to meet with your advisor at least once a quarter if you can–that way, you’ve got someone in your corner to help you always keep track of what classes you’re taking and check off boxes for a graduation plan.
At the same time, keep in mind when class registration opens for each quarter, as it’s different depending on your year and you’ll want to stay on top of that. The unfortunate thing is, the classes you want most are the ones that are going to fill up the fastest. I’m a chronic procrastinator even now, and the above two things are what wound up being trouble for me around my second year.
- Be Open To New Things
Things are probably going to change for you a lot throughout your college journey. Chances are, you’re coming in with an idea of what you want to do and that’s great! Stick with it. But, you might also find that it isn’t what’s going to work for you, and that’s okay, too. Try new things when the opportunity arises, because you’ll never know where that leads. I swapped my major from Media & Journalism to Communication Studies in my first year and thought that was the greatest idea ever until I switched it back– that’s just how much can change.
I took an anthropology class on primates and evolution that I found so interesting–it made me think that in another life, I might’ve become a primatologist. Even when pursuing journalism, I never fancied myself a magazine writer, but then I found myself at PULSE magazine for two years, working my way up from staff reporter to de facto Editor-In-Chief. That experience made me doubt if I would be capable of still writing for newspapers, and yet, here I am at The Observer after two quarters working as News Editor. There are so many possibilities out there. Don’t get lost in them, but don’t let them pass you by either.
- The People You’ll Meet
Speaking of PULSE and Observer, my favorite thing about each of those opportunities is probably the people I’ve met through them, who I’m deeply proud to call coworkers and, more importantly, my friends. Whether you’re networking for your field or just socializing, the people around you, students and staff, are a diverse group with many different perspectives and personalities. You can learn a lot from them and you’ll likely find you’re in good company.
I’ve met important mentors who have taught me invaluable skills for my field and for life in general. I’ve made the best of friends and found myself in odd rivalries. I’ve had my heart broken more than once. As I said about staying open to new things, that means being open to the people around you, too, because they’ll enrich your life and your experience in ways you might not even expect.
- Enjoy The Small Moments
They’re bigger than you think and they won’t last forever. These formative years are going to lay the foundation for the person you’re going to be for the rest of your life and that can be intimidating, but don’t let the big moments (and there will be plenty) distract you from how important the small stuff can be too.
Walking into downtown at night to take pictures with your friends, deciding to binge watch a cartoon from your youth with your roommate, achieving a new personal record at the gym, getting a compliment on your latest project, winning a pickle ball volley against the guy who taught it to you, making that special someone laugh, going for a Taco Bell run at 10 p.m. even though you probably shouldn’t. Stuff like this softens failures and makes them just feel like setbacks, but they also bolster the victories and make them feel even bigger. Some days, you’ll need them and other days you’ll just be grateful they happened.
- You’re Not Alone
This is maybe the most important thing I can tell you. I have felt alone before and it’s pretty scary sometimes, especially with so many new and unfamiliar experiences coming your way. But let me tell you, so long as you keep those four previous points in mind, you never will be.
Hold close the mentors who tell you that you’re a better reporter than you think you are, the friends who let you crash at their place all the time because you don’t like your new roommate, the coworkers you bond with late at night when you’re stuck together, the people you learn from at a conference opportunity, your even newer roommate who adopts you into their friend group just because.
These are the types of people and experiences that will uplift you and in my experience, at CWU, they come in spades if you’re willing to be open to them. If nothing else, I hope that you might see yourself in these words I’ve written and know that you aren’t the only one who’s ever felt the way that you do now. If you can find some comfort in that, then I’ve done my job.
I wish everyone who takes the time to read my sentimental ramblings the best of luck and hope you got something out of them. It’s the best farewell I know how to give to the people, places and experiences at CWU that have made me who I am and to all the people who are set to do the same once I’m gone.
