If you came here expecting to read about how great my life has been over the last four years, now would be a good time to turn the page and find something else to read.
Is the choice of college major solely made out of passion for a person's particular course of study? Or, has the single biggest decision at the beginning of every student's college career become littered with ambiguity by the gravities of society's economic pressures to make a certain base salary right after graduation?
It was around this time in my freshman year when I came very close to submitting applications to transfer out of Seton Hall. I would have gone anywhere, but I was pretty sure I wasn't staying here.
I have to admit, Seton Hall was not my first choice. In fact, it was my safety school, and last on the list of schools I ever wanted to attend. I'm not sure why I drastically changed my mind to enroll, but I'm glad I did.
For several years, criminals who have developed good prison records have been given the opportunity to come to Seton Hall and speak to students in criminal justice classes. While some may undoubtedly feel somewhat uneasy at the idea of having convicted criminals on campus, it is important to point out the invaluable lessons that can be generated from this kind of interaction.
What if? Two words, and that's it. That's all it takes to stop me in my tracks and make me think. But that's life. It's full of questions that I can't answer; that no one will ever be able to answer. What if I decided to play basketball rather than volleyball in college? What if I didn't choose Seton Hall? What if I stayed a graphic design major? What if I wasn't a sports copy editor for The Setonian?
September 2008, I was a little freshman, far from home, volunteering every Wednesday night for the Setonian. Four years later, still little, now the Graphic Design Editor writing my senior column at one of my last Setonian production nights.
It's that time of year, when everyone finds themselves looking back. Seniors, in particular, are probably looking back on the past four (or more) years and wondering where the time went. Four years ago, I was a shy, impressionable freshman who didn't drink coffee or even know who Lady Gaga was. (I know - Gaga has been on the mainstream music scene for less than four years. Don't you feel old now?)
As reported on the front page of The Setonian this week, the University is planning campus-wide renovations that would improve on-campus living and recreation services. Among these planned improvements are the anticipated addition of a Dunkin' Donuts in Walsh Library and massive improvements to the Richie Regan Athletic Center.
Each passing day, it gets harder and harder to believe that senior year is coming to a close and, with it, my college career. I remember my first day at Seton Hall when I was full of uncertainties and unsure of where my time at college would take me. To be honest, I am still not exactly sure where my college career will take me, but that does not mean for one second that I did not enjoy the ride.
Does anyone else hate admitting that their parents are right, or is it just me? I loathe telling my dad he was right about anything, because he just chuckles to himself as if to say "I told you so." There is one lesson, however, which I don't mind telling him he was right.
As the Student Government Association is weighing the possibility of a campus-wide anti-smoking initiative, it can be expected that there will be varying opinions on the subject. However, this is not an issue of rights or privileges. It is, rather, an issue of public versus private property and the jurisdiction of the University.
For most of my time here at Seton Hall, there was never much to look forward to. Then March 17, 2010, happened. A day after the Seton Hall Pirates lost in the NIT to Texas Tech, Bobby Gonzalez was fired from his position as head men's basketball coach.
Earlier this season, the men's basketball team was given the opportunity to play two games at the historic Walsh Gymnasium, and it wasn't just a throwback to the days where college basketball was a much simpler game. It was awesome.
As I nosedive into the pile of work that is the last quarter of my sophomore year, one thing has become clear: sophomore slump is real, and nobody is invincible to it. I have always been overly concerned about grades, and do my best to be well acquainted with the idea of a 4.0 GPA. I know that I've always been a determined student. I don't miss exams; I always take notes and never use my laptop to do so. Somehow this semester, I have felt much more stressed out and stayed up later only to produce what seems like half the results. I also know I am not the only one.
The University's recent announcement that a Dunkin' Donuts would be placed in the Walsh Library already has the community buzzing with excitement.
As reported on the front page this week, the Theater Council's prop for promoting the musical "Baby" was stolen from the front lawn of Fahy Hall last week. This kind of immature, deviant behavior is precisely the kind that not only reflects poorly on the student body, but on the University as well.
Since the days of MySpace there seems to be one social media venture after another, each one becoming more popular than the next. The world thrives on it; our generation in particular would be lost without it. Really though, our generation and those following it would simply be lost without the Internet in general. For some, it is a news provider and for others it is a way to connect with people that they otherwise wouldn't have a relationship with (after all if it weren't for Facebook we all would forget a lot of birthdays). But what if we all took a social media hiatus? Rather what if we just shut off our laptops for a couple days, disconnected our cell phones from our Facebook, Twitter and news updates, and just forgot it all existed?
I've written frequently about the trip to Haiti I took last year with the Division of Volunteer Efforts because it still resonates daily in my life. This week is no exception.
As graduation approaches, I'm feeling more pressure to find a job. I'm sure every senior is feeling this type of pressure as the last three months of their college careers approach.
Solutions by The State News
