It feels strange to write these words. This is my last article for The Daily Campus, and it was an experience that I will cherish forever.
When I was approached to write a weekly column for the student newspaper, I was hesitant because of my full course workload. However, I’m glad that I took up the opportunity to cover the University of Connecticut men’s golf team last fall.
I want to thank my family for their unwavering support in pushing me to get involved with The Daily Campus. They have helped me so much along the way and believed in me even when I doubted myself.
I’m also grateful to my professors, mentors and the entire UConn community for their guidance, wisdom and unwavering support. Their contributions have played a significant role in shaping me into the person I am today.
As I graduate with a B.A. in journalism and communications in a week, I am proud to have contributed to the student newspaper weekly, sharing my game previews and takes on sports.
I owe everything to Stratton Stave and Evan Rodriguez for welcoming me and developing my writing skills. I reached out to Stratton over LinkedIn about getting involved and started writing as soon as possible. When I received feedback after writing my first article “On the Freshman To-Do List: Toscano Family Ice Forum,” I knew from that day forward that I enjoyed the process of writing.
I would also like to thank the editors and the entire staff who helped put together my articles.
To my fellow Daily Campus graduates, congratulations! We have all spent countless hours writing and crafting weekly stories on a wide range of topics. Through last-minute submissions to meet deadlines, late-night study sessions and group projects and exams, we are now ready to embark on this new chapter in our lives.
For me, it’s not about looking back, but about looking forward and having a clear vision. I had a mental block for a little while when my grandmother passed away in the middle of March. I didn’t know what to write about weekly, and this final month had been tough on me. My grandmother would have been proud to see me walk across the stage and throw my cap in Gampel Pavilion.
I want to leave everyone with these words of wisdom by Arnold Schwarzenegger, “If you think that you’re gonna go and accomplish something really special and be the best in anything in the world and if you think you can do it without working you make a big mistake.”
It doesn’t have to be The Daily Campus, but find that club to join. It’s too late to be scared, and in four years, you can’t look back and say, “I wish I did this” and “I wish I did that.”
Keep striving towards that dream. If you make mistakes, so what? I’ve made countless errors in my articles, but I’ve learned and grown from them. Life is too short to waste, so seize every opportunity that comes your way. Even on days when you don’t feel like writing or studying, push yourself to be the best that you can be. That’s how you achieve your dreams.
College is not going to be easy. One thing The Daily Campus and UConn have taught me is that you are going to encounter issues along the way. It’s about how you handle those problems. You may fail assignments or make mistakes on your papers or quizzes but that’s all part of the learning process. Embrace them, learn from them and keep climbing the mountain. If you really want something, get after it!