A farewell to Franklin Pierce

I'm sitting at my desk writing my last editorial as Editor-in-Chief of the Pierce Arrow. I'm realizing now that it is not just my last editorial for the paper, it is my last chance to speak to you, my peers, my friends and the people who have laughed with me, cried with me, been my inspiration, my source of strength and my family for the past four years.

Now I know there are a great number of you who don't know me, but I'm writing this one for you as well. With just one more opportunity to make my mark at Franklin Pierce, I feel I should let you all in on what this school has meant to me and my friends over the last four years.

I'm sitting here sifting through the collection of memories I have accumulated during my time as a student at Pierce and the first one I go back to is my freshman move-in day. I'm sure many of you have a move-in day horror story, well this one is good. I had my entourage of ten people (members of my family, friends etc.) drive onto campus in three (yes three) cars to the Franklin Pierce campus. It was sweltering hot and the AC had just died in my car. We pulled up to Granite and I was greeted by the unbelievably pleasant faces of the student leaders who were there to haul all my stuff to the top floor of the dorm for me. Two guys grabbed the enormous trunk out of my mom's car and without a word took it up to my room. Then I went through the traditional move-in day song and dance of meet your Peer Group, attend your first IC class, introduce yourself, all within the first hour of my being on campus. After I left my Peer Group, I did the whole set-up-the-room with my mom, got mad because she wasn't putting my stuff where I wanted it, and then the absolutely horrible, tragic crying that happened as my family prepared to leave me, alone, at the school I didn't know and was already convinced I hated.

Fast forward to sophomore year. Over the previous year I had grown to like Franklin Pierce; I made friends I had a blast with, I lived in a hall I loved (gotta love the Nock) and was taking classes that I genuinely enjoyed attending. Th is was the year that I realized I wanted to be a journalist. I stepped into my first Paul Bush class, Journalism I, and the first thing he said to me while he was taking attendance was "Oh another English major, let me guess you're here for elective credits?" Wow. As the semester continued I found how much I loved going out and interviewing people for my articles and how much I enjoyed learning about the newspaper business. I was hooked. I knew there would never be anything I enjoyed as much as being on the street and getting that story that everyone else was after. This is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Junior year. I was told this was going to be the most academically challenging year of my life. And for those of you who are juniors you know exactly what I'm talking about. For those of you who are getting ready to be juniors, prepare yourselves, it's going to be a challenging year so work hard and try and stay focused. So I was living in the towers that year. I turned 21 that year. Junior year was definitely the year when I truly felt as if I had found my niche at Franklin Pierce. This was the year that I met an individual who would greatly shape the remainder of my junior year and my college career. This person was also a journalism student, but worked for the Pierce Arrow while I was writing for The Exchange. Our first conversation was an argument about which publication was better. We spent the rest of that year bickering every chance that we got. He challenged me though, he taught me how to chase a story and made me a much more focused and motivated journalist, and so for that I thank you.

This past August I moved into Lakeview, finally a senior! After I was unpacked I sat on my front step looking out on Pearly Pond and realize that the next time I packed up my belongings it would be to leave Franklin Pierce for good. That's when it hit me: the journey was almost over. In a little over eight months I would be a college graduate. This year has been the single most incredible year I have spent at Pierce. Even as a senior, I have made a whole group of new friends and gotten closer with ones from years past. I have had the most wonderful opportunity to serve as Editor-in-Chief for this paper, and I have begun to realize what direction I want to take my life in after my time at Franklin Pierce is done.

I'd like to end this, my final editorial, with a few words of "wisdom" and some quick goodbyes.

To all the underclassmen...enjoy the time you have at this school because it will go much quicker than you can ever imagine. Most people would say have fun, don't get caught up in all the college drama, blah, blah, blah. No. As I do in every editorial I have a request for all you returning students: get absolutely caught up in everything you can here at Franklin Pierce. Immerse yourself in classes, clubs, and most importantly the life that you create for yourself here. Jump into the drama head first because how else are you going to shape your future self without squeezing every memory you can out of your time here at FP?

Now, for the seniors, the Class of 2008, my friends, my classmates, and the people who have helped shape the last four years of my life. Thank you. You have made college the most incredible, fulfilling and life-altering experience. You are an amazing group of people with so much passion, intelligence and such bright futures ahead for each and every one of you. I have a request for you as well: take everything that Franklin Pierce has taught you, both in and outside the classroom and use it in your lives. Remember every night that you stayed up too late and didn't study for that mid-term because watching movies with your friends was more important. Take those friends, those memories, those stories that you will share with your kids some day and remember them fondly. To the Class of 2008, I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world. Congratulations on a job well done!

Finally, to my staff at the Pierce Arrow, I owe you the greatest thanks for all your hard work this year. The countless hours we all spent in the office to produce the paper are some of the funniest and most incredible of my life at Franklin Pierce. You are the most motivated, passionate and talented individuals. I am so proud to have worked with all of you, and the success of this paper would not have been possible without your dedication. For those of you that are returning to the Pierce Arrow next year I wish you the best of luck, I expect nothing but great things from all of you. Tony, don't worry, everything will be fine, you're going to do great and you know I got your back if you need me.

Thank you to everyone who made this crazy, wonderful, chaotic, spectacular experience the most wonderful four years of my life!