Hi… wow, I am back for my last and final year at Stevens. If you don’t know me, I am Ethan, a4/4 software engineer. Writing this makes me think back on the good, the bad, and even more of the bad from my years here. This place has aged me, that is for sure. My peers have compared my demeanor to that of a grumpy old man who just wants to retire. I get it, honestly, and it doesn’t even make me upset to hear people the same age as me compare my actions to their grandparents. As I enter the final year of my tenure here, I am trying to make the most of my time while also planning for the future, and like an old man, I am sleepy. I wish I had more time to take naps, and more facilities on campus to take naps in, like resting pods. While I write this, I am fighting to stay awake because there is so much to do and no time to rest. I didn’t think that being a senior in college would be similar to being a senior citizen! Believe it or not, the similarities between the different types of seniors doesn’t end at our struggles to stay awake. With my old age and frail body comes a lot of wisdom over my years that I hope to have the opportunity to share with everyone. For example, a piece of advice from years of experience, it is okay to open up to new people and share your emotions. However, you should refrain from being so emotional that you end up crying on the Burchard bathroom floor. Another piece of advice, if you do end up crying on the floor of the Burchard bathroom, prepare to never live it down and have it mentioned multiple times to new people, staff on campus, and in the student newspaper.
I can vouch for the fact that Stevens is incredibly unique. Some have referred to it as “The Dusty Gem on The Hudson,” and I couldn’t agree more. This university has so much to offer in terms of student activities and communities to become a part of, so I encourage you all, whether this is your first or fourth year, to take advantage of those things. My philosophy about this whole college thing is to not look back on my time with regrets, but to remember my time fondly even with the struggles that may have arisen across the years. At the end of the day, I am excited to be back, be able to meet a bunch of new people, and spend time with familiar faces as I get ready to move on to the next part of my journey.
