2008 Woodie Awards
Live in the moment
Hope Mendola
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Forum
Over the course of my college career, I've been a firm believer that freshman year is the best year there is. For me, freshman year meant moving away from my parents, eating 999 times a day in the cafeteria, staying up until 4 a.m., chewing gum in class, listening to professors curse in front of me and making a new set of best friends for life. When I was a freshman, everything was new and exciting. The whole year was a rush.
The freshman high definitely faded as I entered my sophomore and junior years of college. Instead of running around like a wild child, I stayed in and studied. My bedtime was no longer 4 a.m.; instead it became difficult for me to stay up past midnight. I was usually stressed and exhausted as I tried to balance school, work, organizations and friends. Professors who cursed weren't that cool anymore, and the cafeteria food was doing strange things to my digestive system.
Now I am a senior. I've found this has really put things into perspective. I am living with the complete realization that my life will never be like this again. So I have been making the point to enjoy every aspect of college life. For instance, I've already been to two parties this year. This makes the total number of parties I've been to in college ... three. I love parties. I love to hang out with all the sober people and acting more drunk than all the drunk people. My typical bedtime is still around midnight - but sometimes I'll be really adventurous and stay up until 2 a.m.
I've also been making sure to take advantage of the campus. At times, I'll just sit and stare at the fountain. Other times I'll read on a bench in Centennial Mall, or lie on the mound of grass in between the Student Union and University Hall and watch people (in a perfectly non-creepy way, of course). I've been making the effort to attend whatever events the university puts on - such as the Student Activities Fair, the President's BBQ, the Jena 6 rally, Dine with the Dean, Thursday tea, and more.
The freshman high definitely faded as I entered my sophomore and junior years of college. Instead of running around like a wild child, I stayed in and studied. My bedtime was no longer 4 a.m.; instead it became difficult for me to stay up past midnight. I was usually stressed and exhausted as I tried to balance school, work, organizations and friends. Professors who cursed weren't that cool anymore, and the cafeteria food was doing strange things to my digestive system.
Now I am a senior. I've found this has really put things into perspective. I am living with the complete realization that my life will never be like this again. So I have been making the point to enjoy every aspect of college life. For instance, I've already been to two parties this year. This makes the total number of parties I've been to in college ... three. I love parties. I love to hang out with all the sober people and acting more drunk than all the drunk people. My typical bedtime is still around midnight - but sometimes I'll be really adventurous and stay up until 2 a.m.
I've also been making sure to take advantage of the campus. At times, I'll just sit and stare at the fountain. Other times I'll read on a bench in Centennial Mall, or lie on the mound of grass in between the Student Union and University Hall and watch people (in a perfectly non-creepy way, of course). I've been making the effort to attend whatever events the university puts on - such as the Student Activities Fair, the President's BBQ, the Jena 6 rally, Dine with the Dean, Thursday tea, and more.
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