I was asked to write an article (OK, actually begged to finally be in Student Life for it has been a dream of mine for the past four years) for the Commencement issue about a month ago, yet continued to put off writing it until the day before it was due. This is probably the first time I have ever procrastinated anything; I always wrote my exposition papers three weeks before they were due and began studying for the next exam as soon as I finished the one before.
This assignment, however, was different. This required me to reflect on my four years at Wash. U. and face the reality that pretty soon I would be graduating. Four years ago, I never would have guessed that I would ever accidentally slip in front of my parents and call my Millbrook apartment “home.” While all the other seniors at my high school were eager to be independent, meet new people, be in new cities, I was dreading the thought of leaving Orland Park and all my family and friends. I had never gone away to summer camps and was convinced that I would never meet as amazing people as the friends that I had back home.
Why did people actually want to graduate? I did not know what everyone was so excited about, but rather lay awake at night wondering how I would ever figure out how to do my own laundry. Perhaps the only thing that allowed my parents to pull away from my Liggett dorm without me still in the backseat was knowing that one of my best friends from home, Lauren, was also going to be a freshman at Wash. U.
Fortunately, I had probably the best random roommate assignment that anyone could ask for. While some of my friends recounted roommate horror stories during Thanksgiving break, all I talked about was the dance parties Jeri and I had in our room to Britney’s “Toxic.” Before long, I met the fifty other residents on Liggett 2, who were all equally as amazing. Not only were these the people that I went to weekly Center Court brunch with (to see how many apples we could sneak out) or hung out in the hallway late into the night talking about the most random topics, but they also helped me survive my pre-med courses. While all being competitive people, everyone helped each other on chemistry problem sets and biology concepts. The friendly, supportive environment of my floor extended into the classroom and to everyone that I encountered during my four years.
As I joined other extracurriculars, I continued to be amazed at the remarkable quality of students that attended Wash. U. I especially never would have guessed the friendships that I obtained from joining Delta Gamma. If I ever needed to call someone crying at 3:30 in the morning, to drive me anywhere and everywhere or just to have a definite night of fun, I knew that I had a strong support network. The compassion and love that my family and friends from home had provided me were quickly given to me by my new friends.
As I am about to leave these remarkable individuals and not know how I am going to be able to say goodbye to so many, I comfort myself with my experience of these past four years. I was convinced that high school was the best four years of my life, and then college only ended up as an even better four years. Thus, as I get ready to start a new part of my life, I remind myself that many more great times are only to come.
As one of my best friends here at Wash. U. told me the other day-“Changes are scary, endings are sad, but life is what is all in between.”
Nicole is graduating from the College of Arts & Sciences. She can be reached via e-mail at nlnejedl@wustl.edu.