Bidding Brockport adieu

By: Allison Kowalski

Posted: 5/6/09

"Carpe diem, seize the day boys.Make your lives extraordinary," John Keating said in Dead Poet's Society. My senior English teacher showed this movie before graduation, and I have since tried to make my life extraordinary.

As I sit at my computer typing my last column, I realize I am days away from graduation. I'm about to go into the big, scary adult world, and am nervous, but excited. It is heart- wrenching knowing I won't be back in Brockport in August or in Syracuse for vacations.

I may not be going home to see family and friends, but moving to Virginia for a job as a copy editor. Knowing I won't see my family and friends as often brings tears, but my gut is telling me I will regret not moving.

I need to grow and explore life, plain and simple. What is the point of living if you don't test yourself? I may be nervous, but I know I'll come out a stronger and better person in the end. Beginnings are a fresh page, and it's time to start the next chapter in my life.

College has prepared me to get a job, but it hasn't prepared me to say goodbye. The past four years brought new experiences, laughter and good friends. I went from a quiet freshman to a confident adult. I am definitely not the same person I was entering Brockport - I don't think anyone is.

I'm bad at goodbyes. I don't want to bid farewell to my friends and roommates, all whom have become family. I said goodbye to many seniors last year, and this year, it's my turn to leave. I know it's going to be hard to keep in touch with everyone since we are going different ways, but we need to move on.

I will always keep my Brockport memories. I remember going to The Stylus recruitment meeting as a freshman. Everyone looked scary, but I went anyway. Little did I know joining The Stylus would be one of my best decisions at Brockport. It helped me grow up and realize I want to work in journalism.

I have had a love/hate relationship with this paper. When it's a Tuesday at 3 a.m., all I can think about is sleep, but when someone comments on a story or says, "Good job," I feel proud.

With everything comes negatives and positives, and The Stylus has brought more positives than negatives for me.

People at The Stylus have also become family. Each year brings new editors and writers, but there are those with me when I joined the editorial board junior year: Amanda Seef, Sarah Fannis and Laura Luettger.

My roommates, Laura, Annie and Kelly, have also been indispensable. I was in 207 and 214 McFarlane freshman year more than my own room. We roomed together for four years (everyone thinks we are weird for not separating). They were my first friends at Brockport, and I will miss them.

Another person I'm going to sorely miss is Meghan, my best friend from Brockport. She is always ready to hear me vent about the paper or boys, and always finishes my thoughts and sentences. She also lets me bounce column ideas off her, and faithfully reads my column.

Also, my Syracuse best friend, Katie. I don't get to see her as often as I like, but we always pick up where we left off. She is one of the few people I know who will listen and never judge.

I would feel a little guilty if I didn't mention my family, especially my two sisters. I wish everyone could have "rocks" like them, and I couldn't ask for a better or more caring support system.

The last time I felt sentimental like this was at high school graduation. But, this graduation is different because I have made a home here. It's going to be hard to leave Brockport, but we have to do it.

I guess my mom was right - college has been the best time of my life, so underclassmen, cherish your remaining years. They will never come back.

Well, this is my final babble. I hoped you enjoyed the paper this year, because I sure did. Peace out, Girl Scout - tomorrow's gonna come too soon.