It’s so insanely hard to believe that I’m already a senior. It honestly feels like I just got here (andI kind of did!) I came in as a spring transfer, and 5 semesters later I’m a semester away fromgraduating early this December. In the quest to discover if I was doing everything right, I nowstand near the finish line of my undergraduate journey realizing college wasn’t just aboutclasses and credits. It’s been a place of growth, resilience, and discovery.

● Growth comes from saying yes (and sometimes no)

Some of my most meaningful experiences have come from opportunities I almost turned down.Whether I tried to tell myself I was too tired, too scared, or too busy, skipping these might’ve ledme down a drastically different path. For instance, I had the opportunity to dance each spring atBusch Gardens. With this being a full-time job requiring me to work 7-10 hours each night inrehearsals and show days, leaving right after class (or sometimes doing virtual lectures), I wasable to gain real work experience early on in my undergraduate career. I also had theopportunity to study abroad in Dublin for 3 months. Changing from what was familiar, spendingeach summer in Williamsburg, was daunting but too exciting to pass up. Ultimately, thatexperience will be one of my favorites from my entire time at William & Mary. However, theredoes come a point where too much is enough. At the same time, I learned that saying no can bejust as powerful when it protects your energy and priorities

• Relationships matter more than you think
  One of the things I remember best about my tour of the campus as a prospective student was
  how much the people here were referenced as kind, studious, and friendly. I can most definitely
  say that this is true. My professors, peers, bosses, and friends have shaped my college
  experience just as much as any textbook or lecture. Investing in people, through study groups,
  office hours, or just plain old friendships, creates memories and support systems that last
  beyond graduation.
  ● It’s okay to not have it all figured out
  I’m sorry to say to freshman me that I still do not have a 30 step plan for the rest of my life.
  Senior me now understands how plans can shift and interests can change in such short periods
  of time, and that’s just a part of the journey.
  If I could go back and tell my freshman self one thing, it would be this: (ironically) don’t rush the
  journey. Although my academic path will conclude in only 6 semesters, College has been more
  than a checklist of classes and experiences. It’s been a journey of exploration and knowledge.
  Even in the most mundane days, I learned something from a lecture, myself, or even just a little
  fact about Williamsburg. As I look ahead to what comes next, I carry these lessons with me,
  grateful for how college has shaped not just my future, but the person I’ve become along the
  way