Looking back on Scranton so far

The class of 2015 graduated yesterday. Watching them graduate made me realize that I am now about to become a senior. Looking back at my past three years at the University of Scranton I have realized how much I have grown. 

Starting with my first year, I walked on to campus a week earlier than most first year students. I had signed up to go on the FIRST retreat which was run through the Office of Community and Social Justice. It was an amazing experience. Along with 49 other first year students, I helped with community service projects in the local Scranton area. Although I was not able to partake in all the days of the retreat due to an illness I was diagnosed with during my senior year of high school. What I did do with the other students I enjoyed a lot. While on FIRST I made some great friends who helped me through my first year of college. 

During sophomore year I had the opportunity to be a retreat leader on Connections which is a retreat for first year students to connect and make new friends. I was able to give a talk on my first year at Scranton all of my ups and downs. It was a great experience. I also had to get knee surgery during sophomore year. The knee surgery was not fun at all, it was my second knee surgery. If it weren't for my friends I don't know how I would have made it through the second half of sophomore year.

Junior year by far has been my favorite year at Scranton. In particular my spring semester. During my spring semester the theater company I am a part of on campus, Liva Arts Company, announced our show was going to be Jonathan Larson's "Rent." After auditioning and getting a callback, I received the news that I was not cast. I was disappointed that I was not a part of the cast, but the director reached out to me and another girl a part of the company who was not cast and offered to us to be the stage managers. We both accepted the position and then worked together to get all the props, costumes, set pieces together. We both put endless hours into doing this show. I had never worked with such an amazing cast and crew before. We had built such a close bond with one another that we have continued to stay close after the show had ended.

It is sad to think that my Scranton experience will be coming to a close soon. However I know all good things must come to an end and the memories and friendships I have made here will last me a lifetime.