It’s been four years, I still don’t know where to start, I still don’t know where I’m going, and I still can’t put into words why Stevens is so special.
Picking where I was going to college certainly wasn’t easy. And it certainly wasn’t fun going for round two with grad school. However, I’m hoping this somehow reaches some prospective freshman to give you a little insight into what this place has to offer.
Parents used to ask me all the time on tours, “Why did you pick Stevens?” I always rambled off some answer about the location, the small feel of the school, and the great professors. But that answer never really does the question justice. There’s something much deeper than that, that I just can’t put into a nice, pithy response. And to be honest it’s hard to remember back to what my reasons were then, but my reasons now having been through this school are significantly different.
Let’s start at the beginning. I remember my first day of Pre-Orientation, rushing to get my room together, saying goodbye to my family, and running over to Howe for what would be my first welcome to Stevens. What started with an awkward icebreaking experience would ultimately introduce me to some of my best friends here. Or a few years later, in an oddly similar experience, the first time I attended a SigEp rush event surrounded by a bunch of great guys I didn’t know yet, whoI would call brothers for the rest of my life. These were experiences that I didn’t know would create so many meaningful relationships, change my life, and make me a better person.
And of course it doesn’t end there. Serving as president of the Martial Arts and Self Defense club for three-ish years and even being a part of the Stute e-board for over a year taught me invaluable lessons, and helped me to build friendships that will outlast my time at this school.
In thirty years, I may not recall the night I stayed up until 4 a.m. writing a code for my mod-sim class (which I swear was more fun than it sounds; thanks Professor Hassiotis), but I will remember the people who got me through it. From my friends who gave me help with the ideas that just made no sense, to the ones who were just there to remind me that I could do it. I couldn’t be more grateful for the outstanding education I have received from my professors, and how so many of them cared not just about giving me a good education, but also helping me succeed in other areas of my life.
Now I know it sounds like I’m an all work and no play kind of person based on what I wrote, but that’s not really accurate. My free time and weekends would be spent exploring Hoboken and NYC, hanging out at apartment parties, or just relaxing on Pier A with some friends. And let’s be honest, I wouldn’t have been a part of so many clubs if I didn’t think it was fun while I was doing it. There’s nothing quite like late nights in the Stute office trying to crank out a new issue every week. In between those stressful moments, we had so much fun just hanging out up there.
Stevens has opened my eyes to so many experiences. There is so much to do and experience here at Stevens, don’t wait for the experience to find you. Go out to those events you think sound ridiculous, they may help to change your perspective on things and open your eyes. Or go explore Hoboken and New York, there’s so much to do that you literally can’t try everything in four or five years. And look, I know not everyone loves this school the way I do, and I recognize it’s not perfect, but nowhere is (no matter what those super cheery tour guides told you.)
There is one thing I know, I’m a lot less lost than I was four years ago. From academics to friendships to work, Stevens has been such a positive transformative experience in such a short period of time. And while I want to say it’s a debt I can never repay, my student loans say otherwise.
Senioritis is an Opinion column written by a current Stevens student in their last year of study to discuss life experiences during their final year at Stevens, and other related subject matter.
Be First to Comment