We are now two weeks away from the end of the semester and summer vacation. As May 16th approaches – and all of us, students, work on any final projects, papers, assignments and study for final exams, there are two more things we also have to deal with: that nostalgic feeling of what this academic year meant for us and how sad, or happy, we are for ending it, and the excitement about summer and what our plans are for our three months’ vacation.
For me, this year was so far the most important one in my academic and personal life. It was the one year that made me realize that although a good grade on a paper and a high GPA are key points for academic success, the most important thing is to learn from the process and the mistakes you make in class. These are the things that will actually lead you to success. The same applies to your personal life and this year brought me growth in both aspects. I’m ready for summer break to reset and prepare for the next academic year.
For some, however, summer break has a bigger and different meaning: it’s when their college years are done, and they will have to face the real world.
Those who are graduating and leaving their school years behind are going through mixed feelings. Feelings of happiness and nostalgia, for they are approaching the end of a chapter and leaving all those people and memories that were made in that chapter behind, because the real world is knocking on their door and once that door is open, it’s unsure who will be there with them, what and how things will happen. But the memories will be there. It’s rewarding and exciting but sad at the same time.
Mariah Hogg, a senior at SUNY Cortland majoring in Early Childhood Education, said that Cortland was one of the best decisions she made in her life. She said Cortland was the place where she found her way, made memories and friends that she is grateful for and will always remember and miss.
“What I’ll miss the most about Cortland is the interactive and engaging campus,”
said Hogg. “Whether it be a simple seminar or one of the SAB events. I will also miss some of the staff on Campus who have shown empathy and understanding of the struggles of a college student.”
Nostalgic feelings apart, all SUNY Cortland students are excited for summer and for what is to come in those warm, sunny days. More importantly, students are overly excited about not having to do homework for three months.
“I’m ready for summer and I’ll not miss the schoolwork and academic stress,” said Hogg, confirming that thought.
As an international student, summer vacation can only mean one thing for me: I can finally go home to see my family. During other breaks, while other students go home to see their families and friends, I stay on campus, or with my American friends. It’s not worth taking long and expensive flights to go to my home country for such a short time, knowing I will barely have time to spend with all my family members and friends. But summer break is the time I get to go back to see all the people that matter the most to me, and I’m thrilled about it.
With warmer days ahead and the anticipation for what comes next – regardless of what that means for each one of us, the plan of all students is to finish strong, achieve that high grade and end one more year of fun, high learning and academic and personal improvement on a good note.
“I am ready to take on the world. Let’s go Red Dragons!” said Hogg.