To Berkey, or not to Berkey, that is the question.

Admittedly, Penn State might just be the sweet spot. On campus, the temptation of Berkey Creamery is ever-present. But if you find yourself too peachy for their Peachy Paterno, Hershey, the best chocolate maker in the world, in my opinion, is located only a couple of hours away. And in case your friends have consumed your entire milk supply for their after-party, thousands of dairy cows in the adjacent farms are all too eager to replenish your dry cereal bowl. Talk about udderly delicious!

Everyone shares their own unique reflection of the college experience, and looking back, my Penn State experience started to feel like a really tall glass of a Long Island. Initially, you don’t know what you want, it starts off smooth, then suddenly, you’re overwhelmed by an intense amalgam of feelings that transpired out of nowhere — the whole Happy Valley Shabang. And by the end of it, you’re completely lost, unable to remember what happened or how you got home. But you would do it all over again after skipping a heartbeat.

I will always remember arriving in State College and seeing the rolling hills and grass fields for the first time, enveloped in a golden shine cast by the sunset. The feeling was pure bliss and borderline euphoric. This picturesque sight has stuck with me to this day, almost invoking the kind of nostalgia one gets from looking at the original Windows XP wallpaper.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a lot of time to be in nature to savor the gorgeous Pennsylvanian landscape, but I did spend a substantial number of hours in the library. I have grown especially fond of the commons room at Pattee, with its massive, immaculate glass walls and simple white décor, all strongly effusing Scandinavian minimalism of the highest quality that would put IKEA to shame. I truly appreciate this place for the many late nights it saw me, and I never once felt that I was lost here, unlike IKEA.

Aside from academics, one thing Penn State has taught me is that you can run longer and faster than you ever thought possible. I have never been a long-distance runner but having to make it to your next class across campus in just a few minutes can really build up one’s endurance.

Throughout the semesters, I learned that it’s often better to think less and do more. Follow your heart and never let indecisiveness decide for you. Be a go-getter, stay proactive, and treat reaching your goals as a car race. Set a clear finish line and work toward it without letting second thoughts distract you. Obviously, it will rarely be a straight shot to the destination. There will be bumps to navigate and corners to turn… Yet, only sharp corners present the opportunity to execute that sick inertia drift and continue full-send ahead. Just don’t crash and burn because you aren’t Pete Mitchell.

I would also like to take this special opportunity to express sincere gratitude to my beloved pals who have always been there to support me, making my journey here all the more special. I want to thank my best friend, Liz, for being there during my roughest moments and for always finding the craziest, spontaneous adventures for us to embark on, be it cow gazing around UP or backpacking in Alaska (get better soon, buddy!). And my fellow partners in crime, patrons of fine art, philanthropists of Trader Joe’s, Sarah and Aiden, who have conspired and convinced me to consume an alarming amount of Kringles. And our sophisticated scholar, Tony, for spending countless hours teaching me things I should have learned in class.

I also would like to pay tribute to our dearest managing editor, Keeley, who granted me the one-way ticket to rejoice in the dark but Onward side. I am only doing this so that I will not end up on her top-10 most wanted, not just because she is totally awesome and has a sweet personality rivaling that of Berkey’s. And to our visual editors, Mikey and Hailey, incredibly talented photographers who have given me an incredible amount of help along the way. Hailey also saved me from becoming one with the wind when I got lost in the snow in the middle of the night outside of THON. Never forget.

Lastly, I would like to thank my family for putting up with my years of antics. Without their unconditional love and support, none of this would have been possible. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for having them. A toast (anything but a Long Island) to their good health! I also cannot wait to see my good puppers Charlie and Theodore again. It’s been a while since I last saw them!

Much love for my wonderful peeps! And do enjoy Berkey while the sun is out.