Well, I don't want to be trite, but it seems to me that a senior column should be a reflection on one's past or the future, or perhaps both.
I think that I should probably use this column, at least in part, to thank two very important people before I get to my hopes for the future because I believe sincere thanks should be addressed to those who have helped us become who we are today.
To this end, I must thank my parents, who raised me to be the person that I am today. My successes are theirs, my failings are most probably my own.
Though my mom and dad passed away and won't be able to see me graduate, it was their guidance and support which sparked my academic explorations.
It was the memory of this endless encouragement that helped me decide to pursue the study of history.
My mom taught me the value of effective preparation, to strive to improve and to motivate myself.
My dad showed me the value of work ethic and how to really listen and understand a situation.
Both my parents instilled in me the importance of empathy and responsibility in all situations.
Also, to all my family and friends as well, their years of support are deeply appreciated, because college can be a daunting proposition at times.
In regard to the future, I hope I'll have a chance to continue to study history at the graduate level.
Though I'm loathe to etch in stone what I will or won't do with my life plans, I think it fair to say that the study of history is my goal much more than journalism.
You might wonder why a history major would work at a newspaper for four years if my ultimate goal wasn't journalism.
In response, I would say that the idea of helping to "chronicle history in the present," as I like to refer to journalism, has always appealed to me (Jean Froissart and his Chronicles, anyone?) and the development of skills for both writing and citation have been crucial.
Journalism and history are both alike in the importance they place on citation; any quotation in journalism must be attributed and any historical assertion should have primary and secondary sources backing it.
My Collegian experience has given me the opportunity to see news in action as both an editor and reporter, and it has broadened my horizons far more than I could have ever imagined. When I started at the Collegian my freshman year, I never thought it would develop into such a major part of my Penn State experience.
Years and many late nights later, I have had more fun and learned so much more than I had anticipated. From writing historical references into editorials to spending hours at the office, it's been amazingly rewarding.
Let me also tell you, dear readers, that one should never underestimate the appeal of the human element -- the people in this building that I have worked alongside for years have shown themselves to be among the best and hardest working at Penn State.
Being around the sort of motivated, perceptive and dedicated individuals in the newsroom has been reward enough for years of journalistic work.
Words truly fail me as I try to describe the range of experiences in my time at the Collegian because the sheer scope defies easy characterization within this humble space.
Finally, I feel it necessary to offer obligatory words of wisdom, which in this case would be to reflect on life as much as possible, during the course of school and life.
This becomes more important as time goes on, because it helps you realize how much you appreciate the people around you.
The crucial point of life is really that the more we experience, the more we grow and learn, and the older we get, the less time it seems we have to reflect on all these experiences.
Time is never static, but rather a continually flowing river, so the only way to really appreciate its width and breadth is to capture the important and lasting images of life in your mind.
Time will only keep accelerating with the more of the world we see, the more of the blank edges of the map we fill in, and therefore I encourage you to take it all in and reflect on your time here at Penn State.
