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The end again: A moment to reflect

This is is gang, we’ve reached the end of the rope.

I’ve made mention in previous editorials that I wrote as Editor in Chief a few years back on what it feels like to be where I am right now. We seniors are at the end of a chapter in our life stories. College has, for better or worse, been the center of our existence, the phase that we define ourselves by, for the past 4 or 5 years now. And now, it comes to a close.

On May 25, 2016, my graduating class will head to the Meadowlands Expo Center, perform the ritual, and that will be it.

After that, our lives drastically change. Some of us will move back home to our respective regions of the world, others may stick around Stevens to get another degree. Most have plans for after college, some don’t. I will be working at Langan Engineering in Parsippany, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

But, with all of the excitement that comes with this change of pace there is a fair amount of anxiety and stress. I for one am still worried about living the 9-5 lifestyle: will it wear me out? Will I enjoy my life? Will I still have time for fun? Despite what everyone tells me, I know I’ll have to experience it for myself.

And true as well, what of all of our friends? Will Tuesdays at Biergarten remain the same? Probably not. What about those house parties with Cards Against Humanity and shots of ‘Cinnamon Toast Crunch’? Likely gone. We’re all going to be so busy that it may be too difficult to maintain some of these social connections outside of digital media.

So, yes, for better or worse, change is coming.

To the students who will be at Stevens for a little longer, allow me to liken this experience to one you’re more familiar with. In a typical semester, you’re bound to have a week that is like ‘crunch time’ where all of your projects/presentations/reports/tests/homework assignments are all due. Imagine that, but have almost everything in your life, on the same day. I think we’ve all experienced this at least once with high school, but this feels different. I am not going to more school at the end of this graduation ceremony – I am going to be a full-fledged adult.

Regardless, I can’t help but reflecting on my time spent here at Stevens. Both the good, and the bad, meshing into one huge memory.

I made tons of friends – more than I ever had in high school. I took an active role in the shaping of the newspaper’s history. I met the woman of my dreams. I learned the fundamentals of engineering, and became a pretty competent Civil Engineer. I got experience in my field through a good handful of internships. I argued, I battled, I fought, I lost, I won, I ranted, I laughed, I cried. Yeah. This whole experience has been one hell of a roller coaster. In my relationship with Stevens, we’ve learned to love and hate each other, and I think every minute of it was for the best.

I am who I am today because of this school – for better or worse.

But! All things, both good and bad, must come to an end eventually, and I think I’ve beaten around the bush long enough.

‘Per aspera ad astra’ my friends and foes. I’m sure we’ll meet again.

Sayonara, Stevens.

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