By: Chloe Wilhelm
Despite the fact that I walk down the stairs of Harstad Hall and make my way to Red Square every day, it still takes me a moment to fully realize that I am officially a first-year student at PLU.
As a first-generation student, the feeling of being a university student is amazing. When I first started applying to colleges last year, I knew that PLU was my top choice. Despite this, I wasn’t sure how I would be able to attend due to my financial situation.
However, after an acceptance letter and surprising financial aid and scholarship offer, I am now able to attend my dream school, and I am incredibly grateful.
I had the opportunity to participate in the Running Start program, and even though I have been in college before, being a student at PLU is different.
The academics are more rigorous, but during my time here so far, I have realized that I am part of an incredibly supportive community where people want to help each other succeed. I know that there will be challenges, but I know that I am surrounded by people who will encourage me to do my best.
With that sense of community comes involvement. There are so many opportunities for students at PLU, and even though I am a first-year student, I have already begun to explore what I am interested in and try to find my vocation.
I have already had the opportunity to pursue my interests, and I know that I will be able to take more classes in the future in subjects that interest me.
I know that there will be even more opportunities for me in the future. With PLU’s services for career connections, job fairs, and networking with alumni, I am excited to learn more about different fields and find a career that fits who I am and what I want to do in life.
Even though I have just begun my time here at PLU, I already have a feeling that my experience here will be educational, involving, and wonderful overall. I’m grateful for where I’m at, and I’m so excited to see what the future holds.
—
By: Colton Walter
Before I even come close to smelling the turkey this Thanksgiving, I know I’m inevitably going to be questioned, “What’s it like to be in your last year of school?” To me there has never been a simple answer to this question. Not in high school, and certainly not now as a senior in college.
This seems like the final stretch of a race. You’ve made it this far, with the finish line in sight – graduation. Only that finish line is more of a checkpoint for the start of the next race you have to start warming up for before you’ve even completed the last one. It’s like I’m going cross-eyed, simultaneously focusing on what’s happening at PLU and what I’m going to do next year. Many students graduating in Spring feel like they’re in this state of limbo too.
“It’s an interesting transition year being a senior,” said Riley Dolan, ‘19. “We’re still at PLU finishing up our year, but we’re also looking to the future. So it feels like a weird in-between place.”
We’ve gained a lot of responsibility over the past few years here, the last members standing out of our original class. As this college has gotten used to having us around, we’ve grown used to this college. Gone are the days of dressing up nice for General Education classes – replaced by arriving in sweatpants to hyper-specific courses. To many seniors, graduating from the PLU community feels like losing more than just colleagues.
“It’s going to be really hard to say goodbye to everyone – the family I’ve made here,” said Dolan.
While many look ahead at the year to come and beyond, it’s still important to reflect on what’s made our experiences at PLU valuable. As seniors, we have some sort of obligation to pass on our “wisdom” to the incoming freshman class of 2022.
Senior Denis Julio said, “Don’t be scared to put yourself in situations that are uncomfortable. Just try anything. Even if your friends aren’t about that, it doesn’t mean that you can’t find community or it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy that specific thing.”
It amazes me to look back at the accomplishments my fellow seniors have made along this journey. Over my three years, I’ve seen so much progression, and preparedness for the world to come. I think that my colleagues are eager and ready to enter this world. I just hope the world is ready for their ambitions.
