photo courtesy of Bianca Billoni
BY BIANCA BILLONI, STAFF WRITER
This is my last semester at St. Bonaventure University. With about two months left in the semester, I have a lot of thoughts swirling around in my head. But I think the best way to deal with them right now is to give some advice to those of you who still have time left in your Bonaventure careers. This will not be an exhaustive list by any means, but I hope that some of my points can resonate with you.
First and foremost, spend as much time as possible with your friends here on campus. I’m not going to use the classic “it goes by so fast” line because you’ve heard that before, and honestly if you’re making the most of your time, it won’t matter how fast it goes. Make sure you go to trivia, bingo and stuff-a-buddy events. Also the Rathskeller, Randy’s Up The River and Don Tequila are the must-eats around town.
Whether you’re getting work done in the library, working out in the Richter Center or just going for a Walmart run, make the most of that time with your friends. I’m not saying these friendships won’t last far beyond our time here at Bona’s, but it won’t be nearly as easy as having everyone in the same place at the same time.
Next, get involved. You’ve probably heard this one before, but I’m not kidding when I say the on-campus jobs and extracurricular activities I participated in were possibly the biggest factors in having a great college experience. When I started at Bonaventure, I was a journalism major. Now, I’m graduating with a double major in journalism and music with a minor in women’s studies. I’m not saying that has to be you, but really opening your eyes to all the opportunities available here could help you discover what you want to do with your life. Getting to work as an orientation leader and a peer coach also helped me to build my confidence in leading a group and generally allowing my voice to be heard in group settings. Just make sure you’re taking advantage of everything available to you while you’re here because it won’t be like this after graduation.
Lastly, ask for help! A great way to do this is through getting to know your professors, advisors and anyone here that could be seen as a mentor. These people are here to help you. No one wants you to fail. If you can take the time to build connections, they will understand you better as a student and as a person. This can only happen if you put in that extra effort, though. No one can know you need the support if you don’t tell them, friends and family included.
Oh, one last thing. Be yourself. I know that sounds cheesy, but if you try to play a part, nothing you do here will matter because it will all end once you leave. When you can be fully genuine with your friends, your work and everything you do, your life becomes that much more meaningful. Have fun and enjoy the rest of your time here because you’ll be a Bonnie for life.
billonbd19@bonaventure.edu
