Packing Up the Memories: A Senior’s Farewell to UMass

Content

As I sat down to write this article, I had just finished packing my car to head home for Easter weekend. My mom suggested I load all of my winter gear and any miscellaneous items that might make moving out for good a bit easier. As I was packing, it all hit me… I’m moving out for good. Somehow, in the blink of an eye—as cliché as it sounds—my time at UMass Amherst is already over.

Luckily, I’ve had the most wonderful four years here, and my senior year was one of the best. (I feel like I say that about every year, but I guess that’s a good thing!) 

My final year at UMass was one of growth and exploration, and I’m so glad it went the way it did.

Fall Semester

Image

My senior fall semester was idyllic—just as I had hoped it would be. I spent much of my time outdoors with friends, enjoying the beauty of a classic New England fall. The semester felt like the perfect blend of work and play: I truly enjoyed my classes and took on two new roles on campus—head of public relations at the Massachusetts Daily Collegian and social media intern for the SBS Office of Career and Professional Development. My days were filled with going to classes, heading to work, and grabbing lunch with friends—all of which felt incredibly fulfilling.

The fall semester was especially enjoyable to me because it was the first time I got to spend it with the friends I met while studying abroad in Florence, Italy. We were lucky not only to have met abroad, but even more fortunate to all attend the same school. It felt so special to have formed those connections in Italy and then continue our friendship throughout our final year at UMass.

Image

I'm happy I got to spend more time in the Massachusetts Daily Collegian office

This semester was also when I met so many new people through my work at the Collegian. In the past, I hadn’t spent much time in our office, but this year I made it a point to be more present—and I’m so glad I did. I’ll be graduating with a whole new set of friends I genuinely hope to stay connected with for years to come.

Spring Semester

My final semester at UMass started off cold, as all spring semesters do. It was certainly a harsh winter, but that didn’t stop me from making the most of it. This semester, I took three classes: Art of the Profile with Caroline Winter, Data-Driven Storytelling with Rodrigo Zamith, and Public Relations Campaign Management with Jennie Donohue. It was my first time taking only journalism classes in a single semester, and it’s been amazing to fully immerse myself in the major. The classes with Winter and Zamith have been unlike any I’ve taken before and have truly enriched my academic experience.

I also spent this semester chipping away at my Honors Thesis, which was a challenging but rewarding task. When I unrolled the poster I created for the Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference, I was overcome with a sense of accomplishment—seeing all of my hard work laid out in front of me was a moment I won’t forget.

My spring semester wasn’t just marked by work and school—I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the one thing I enjoyed the most: going on walks. While it might sound silly, my friends and I went on a walk nearly every weekend, often for three to four hours, sometimes even longer. Usually on a Saturday, I’d meet my friends Sam and Nat (and occasionally a guest) down the street at their house, and our walk would commence. 

We rarely had a destination in mind—we just kept going until one of us noticed we had hit 15,000 steps and figured it might be time to head back.

Image

I will miss these walks with my friends

These walks were hands down my favorite part of the semester, and something I’ll cherish forever. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s true! We rarely looked at our phones, we talked about everything under the sun, and got in some exercise while we were at it. It was the perfect way to spend a day, rain or shine—and it’s what I’ll miss the most after we graduate.

If you’re reading this and you're not yet a senior, I want to remind you to enjoy every moment that comes your way. People will tell you this all the time during your senior year, and you might brush it off. You’ll likely be overwhelmed with work or the pressure of applying to grad school or jobs. But through it all, just remember to enjoy the little moments while you still can. 

Things like walking out of class with a friend or bumping into an old classmate didn’t feel as special until I only had 30 days left to experience these small moments. So cherish it!