It is hard to believe that my fellow classmates and I graduated from BC this past May 23rd. Just as everyone warned me, the fours years I spent at The Heights flew by. It seems like yesterday that my family was dropping me off on campus to move into Gonzaga, my freshman dorm on upper campus.
From clubs to professors, to field studies, guest speakers, and friends, there are too may aspects of my BC experience to speak to here. I really just wanted to highlight the fact that my experience was one that changed my life in a very positive way, reflect and offer a bit of advice, and also share a few pictures of course!
One piece of advice I would give to anyone who is able continue their education past high school is to take a step back and realize how fortunate you are. A lot of people, most obviously yourself, made a lot of sacrifices to get you in that position (and many more would give anything to be in your shoes with the same opportunity) - so be proud, yet humble, and make the most of it!
That, however, does not mean putting immense pressure on yourself to succeed in every endeavor - something all of us are guilty of doing. It is valuable to realize early on that failure is an inevitable part of life. I like the way J.K. Rowling puts it: "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default." I think I am so happy about my BC experience, not because I always succeeded (far from it), but because I know I took the initiative to make the most of every opportunity that came my way. I know I did my best, it's as simple as that. So be the yes man/woman - explore new opportunities, get outside your comfort zone, make a diverse group of friends, study abroad, and ultimately, if you're not sure if you should sign up for or go to something, make like Nike and just do it.
The other important theme that comes to mind as I reflect on my time at BC is the importance of other people. As the first one in my family to attend college, the transition was daunting and challenging initially to say the least - but what ultimately made the difference was the people I surrounded myself with. I gained so much value from my time at BC thanks to the lifelong friends I made, mentors I met, and appreciation I gained for my family and values developed back home. As Mike Piazza recently said in his Hall of Fame induction speech, "it's a time to say thank you to the people that helped you along the way - you don't go into the Hall of Fame alone, a lot of people do go in with you." There is no way I would be where I am today without the other people in my life - my college degree is not simply for myself, but it is for the family, friends, faculty, donors, and everyone in between who helped me along the way.
I'm not sure what the future holds, but I am sure that there are many more challenges ahead. I'm thankful that my time at BC has allowed me to build a foundation for my future, and I am beyond excited to continue to make the most of whatever comes my way. It is impossible to plan a path out for your life, but I appreciate the perspective in which BC Professor Father Michael Himes' presents things - via three simple questions : "What do I enjoy? What am I good at? What does the world need?"
Finally, a few pictures (okay more than a few...but hey, I enjoy taking pictures) -
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year - Study Abroad
Senior Year
