Feeling like a Senior Citizen

My time as a Jimmie is coming to an end, and I wish it didn’t have to. Lately, I’ve been feeling very old. I’m completing the last classes of my four-year plan, my friends are getting accepted into different grad schools, and it’s a LOT harder to run up the court for intramural basketball than last year.

So, in order to counteract the sadness of having to leave UJ, here are the positives that can sum up the past four years.

I’ve gotten much better at handling change.

Freshman move-in day was one of the hardest days of my life. I bawled the entire car ride, and I’m not kidding. I was scared to the max even though UJ was where I wanted to be.

I’ve experienced big and small changes in my life since then, and overall they have taught me to embrace life’s changes as they come. Now, in a few months, I’ll graduate and head on to my next journey. I’m confident I’ll handle this change with fewer tears than the last time.

I got paired with the best possible roommate.

Move-in day was also one of the best days of my life. I met my roommate Val Keller (in Taber Hall of all places), who I now have lived with on campus every year. We were completely random strangers, so you can imagine how our first conversation in Taber went.

Both Exercise Science majors and musicians in the band, we started to get along pretty quick. We have yet to have our first roommate fight, which is our biggest accomplishment. I’m so thankful to have gone through college with her.

I can now say I’ve been to Europe.

Through the Wind Ensemble, I was able to travel to Scotland and Ireland – something I never expected – last May! I had the time of my life. I saw amazing cities, ate delicious foods, and played great music alongside some of my best friends. Playing all sorts of music for concerts, in the USA and Europe, over the years has brought me so much joy that is truly irreplaceable.

I love this place with all my heart.

I joined Student Senate and the Jimmie Ambassadors my sophomore year so that I could show and tell others how much I love UJ. Getting more involved on campus in these two ways really enhanced my experience. This year I’ve been the Senate/Student Body President, which has helped me grow in my leadership and organizational skills like no other.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve taken some really tough classes and gone through loads of stress. But when people ask the standard “how is school?” question, I can’t help but respond that I have loved being a Jimmie and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.