I’m here writing my senior column pretty much in the 11th hour. If you know me, you aren’t necessarily shocked by this. The reason I put this off is that I don’t really know what to say, a lot of people will offer wisdom or advice, but I don’t have any of that to give to pretty much anyone.

Luckily, my brother Will’s girlfriend, Grace — both former Onward State editors — gave me the awesome idea to write out questions I would’ve asked myself as a freshman and answer them in my senior column. So here it is. Big shoutout to GC for the great idea! 

What Is Your Favorite Part Of Being A Staffer For Onward State?

Freshman: For me, being a contributor for our podcast, Podward State, has been easily my favorite part of OS. It gives me the guarantee to see my brother once a week and has given me some of my best friends at PSU: Sam, Jordan, Grace, Shannon, Connor, Keeley, and Stutz have all been great friends all of freshman year, and I see all of them being just as close in my life when it’s our turn to graduate. 

Senior: I haven’t looked back at these prompts since I first answered them four years ago, and I find them hilarious. My answer doesn’t change much at all, as those people I mentioned above are still great friends. Everyone but Keeley and Stutz have now graduated, but those two are still some of my closest friends, and we are now the executive producers of Podward State rather than some lousy contribs. I’ve also gained new friends over the years due to the pod, including Shannon’s little brother Ryan, once a Podward State super fan and now the future leader of the crew. 

Has Penn State Football Won A National Championship Yet?

Freshman: Probably not. Hopefully, James is gone. 

Senior: This made me audibly laugh. I am assuming I wrote my freshman answer after a loss and was quite emotional about it. Franklin has certainly won me over, and after a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinal last year, I am more optimistic about Allar and the boys then I ever have been. 

Talk About Your Friends: Same People, Different?

Freshman: I am assuming my friends will be the same. I guess we’ll see. 

Senior: Absolutely different friend group! And very happy about it, so I guess this is where I can offer some wisdom and say keep your head up and it all works out in the end. 

Favorite Penn State Football Memory?

Freshman: This is such a hard question, in my 18 years I have been to upwards of probably 40 Penn State football games, this includes the FIRST game not coached by Joe Paterno in 47 years (a shitty loss to Nebraska – fuckers) it also includes a Big Ten Championship, One of the Best Rose Bowls of all time, a Cotton Bowl, and countless White Outs. So to pick a favorite would be simply unfair, but I will say that the Big Ten Championship win was a defining moment as a 13-year-old and is one of the main reasons I am at Penn State right now. 

Senior: I actually agree with pretty much everything I wrote freshman year. One thing I should add here is a thank you to my parents. They have sacrificed so much so that my brothers and I could watch the team that means so much to all of us. My dad (Class of ’94), my brother (Class of ’22), my mom — who married into this but might be the biggest fan of us all — and my younger brother Jack (a freshman at William & Mary in Virginia) have shared some of our best family moments at these “silly” football games. Whether we’re freezing our asses off watching the boys smack SMU two days before Christmas, or my 16-year-old brother telling a USC fan to “fuck off” at the foot of the Rose Bowl, we’ve pretty much done it all. So even though the prompt was “football” memories, these are simply some of my best memories in my life, and I can’t thank my parents enough for flying us across the country every year to watch four quarters of a bunch of 18- to 22-year-olds playing a game. 

Finally, Are You Happy At Penn State?

Freshman: Quite honestly, there are times when I wish I considered other options. I applied to a bunch of schools, but I knew all along I was coming here. No one ever pressured me to come here, but I never had a doubt. The second that I got in on December 23, 2020, I clicked accept, and voila, I was enrolled. So yes, I am happy and have had a great year with my brother and have made good friends, but there are definitely times I wish I looked around a little more. 

Senior: My answer to this question is entirely different. As a freshman, I was such a dork! This place rocks. Having my brother with me for a year was incredible. I think we got a lot closer, and going to parties with him and his friends are moments I will remember (most of them) forever. Having his girlfriend there to buy me beer sophomore year was a game-changer. While everyone else was trekking across town with a fake ID or begging a fraternity brother for help, I just had to send a quick text. Twenty minutes later, I’d be walking to her apartment and was just getting a cold beer in hand. As I got older, I made my own friends, these are the guys that are going to be in my wedding someday. My roommates and former roommate Ryan, Carter, Seth, Zack, and JJ have all been a huge part of my time here, and I don’t regret a second of it. My second roommates Patrick, Austin, and Nick deserve credit for leasing their couch to all of us as they live much closer to the bars. 

That’s all I really have to say, so I guess I am supposed to thank everyone. So, to quote Billy Bob Thornton, “Thanks!”