Four years ago, I showed up with a course schedule, a campus map, and the blind optimism of someone who thought an 8 a.m. class sounded like a good idea because I “woke up early in high school.” I figured college was where I’d “figure it all out.” And while some of that figuring happened in classes, most of the things that actually stuck with me weren’t on a syllabus. They were smaller, quieter. Unexpected.

It turns out, what lasts isn’t always the big, polished moments. It’s not necessarily that thing you were looking forward to for over a month — it’s the spontaneous nights that started with “I’ll only stay for an hour,” the random meal that sparked a regular tradition, or even the quieter moments that made this place feel more like home.

Not everything I learned in college came from a lecture hall. Some things stuck for reasons I don’t understand — a lesson, a person, a Tuesday afternoon that meant more than it should’ve, people.

This isn’t everything. Just a small collection of the stuff that stayed.

Lessons That Don’t Come With A Grade

Say “yes” — I made one of my closest friends during college by saying “yes.” It was the first week of classes, and some random person I had never met before asked if I wanted to grab lunch at Redifer dining hall. That random person became a roommate and a lifelong friend. I met the rest of my college roommates and closest friends by saying “yes” to joining an IM soccer team. This has led to four years of nights out, movie nights in, study sessions, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, spring breaks, laughs, and endless memories. Saying “yes” opened every meaningful door I walked through. I joined student organizations that shaped my experience. I joined this blog after my Schreyer mentor encouraged me to apply. I joined a business fraternity — one filled with the most driven, passionate, and supportive people — because a few classmates urged me to give it a shot. Looking back, I’m so glad I did. Saying “yes” gave me community, connection, and the best parts of college.

No one’s going to knock on your dorm room with your dream — Before coming to college, you probably heard all the usual advice: “These will be the best four years of your life,” “You’ll make lifelong friends,” and — specifically regarding Penn State — “Make a big school feel small.” And honestly, those things can all be true. They were for me. But what no one tells you is that those great things don’t just fall into your lap — you have to go out and find them. You have to be the one to send the first text, walk into the meeting alone, apply even if you’re not sure you’re qualified. You have to introduce yourself, ask questions, and volunteer for opportunities. College opens a thousand doors, but it won’t push you through them. The best parts of my experience — the friends I made, the communities I found, the growth I’m proud of — happened because I took the initiative. 

There’s no “right” way to do college — The real magic of college lies in the ability to choose your path, whether that’s the major you choose, the organizations you join, or the people you surround yourself with. As a marketing major, a lot of people told me I had to join marketing-specific clubs. And honestly, that works for many people, but it didn’t really feel like me. I ended up taking a non-traditional route and joined clubs that aligned more with my interests, even if they weren’t tied directly to my major. Yet, I was still able to practice my professional skills by taking on marketing-related leadership positions in those organizations. From this, I found a lot of success. This is just one anecdote that represents this piece of advice. Maybe this applies to your social life, your career aspirations, or whatever, really. The important thing is recognizing that there’s no single formula for doing it “right.” What works for someone else might not work for you. Don’t compare yourself because someone else’s measure of success will and should be inherently different from your own.

The People Who Shaped My College Story

When I think about college, the first things that come to mind aren’t the exams I stressed over, the classes I took, or the homework and papers I’ve written — it’s the people. The ones who turned a big campus into something that felt like home. The friends I made in classes and student orgs. The roommates who became family. At the end of the day, it’s the people who make this place unforgettable — and I wouldn’t trade mine for anything. I’d like to give a quick shoutout to a few groups (feel free to skip this part if sappy thank-yous aren’t your thing).

To my roommates — it’s wild to think we became friends that first week of school, and now here we are, four years later, about to graduate together. You guys are my favorite people to come home to, and you have made college something I will miss.

To my friends in AKPsi — you are some of the most driven, supportive, and genuinely fun people I’ve ever met. You pushed me to grow, cheered me on through everything, and are a big reason why I feel ready for whatever comes next.

And to everyone else important in my life at Penn State, thank you for making this place feel like home, for the laughs, the support, and all the little moments that meant more than you probably realize.

Unexpected Moments That Meant Everything

Some of the best parts of college weren’t the ones I planned — they were the little things I never saw coming. College is full of milestones, but it’s the in-between moments — the ones you don’t think twice about at the time — that sneak up on you in the best way. Those are the ones I’ll carry with me: the small, ordinary seconds that ended up meaning the most. Here is a collection of those moments that will stick with me:

1. Sitting for hours on end in the Simmons study rooms with friends doing anything but studying during freshman year.
2. Nightly, midnight Louie’s market runs during freshman year to get a Creamery chocolate milk and jalapeño chips.
3. Endless ping pong games in the Simmons basement during freshman year.
4. Bi-weekly dinners where my friends and I picked a new cuisine and challenged ourselves to cook something fancy.
5. Sitting in hammocks on HUB lawn listening to Steely Dan with friends.
6. Becoming regulars with my roommates at A’s Pub downtown.
7. Bumping into someone I haven’t seen in a while and proceeding to talk to them at the corner for an hour.
8. Movie nights with roommates.
9. Playing two-hand touch football in the IM tailgate lots after a noon game.
10. Playing pick-up flag football on nice Spring nights.
11. “Treat yo’ self” nights with my roommates, where we classed it up by going to a somewhat nicer establishment (i.e. Five Guys).
12. Treating ourselves with a pitcher at Cafe after a long day of class.
13. Taking IM soccer a little too seriously.
14. Talking and laughing with roommates until 3 a.m. after a night out.
15. There are probably so many more I can list (but you get the point)

It’s these small moments I am going to miss the most: living three steps away from my closest friends, waking up to my roommates dying of laughter on the couch, the kind of everyday chaos that somehow made everything feel right.

What I’m Taking With Me (Besides a Degree)

The confidence to take on the unknown. Lifelong friends. Endless memories.

Thank you, Penn State.