I hesitated to write something for the last Record of this 2009-10 CSB/SJU school year. Granted, it will be my last, but at the same time, there are so many great writers on campus who are probably writing with the same intentions as me.
I want to give my final farewell to this campus I love and maybe even leave some wisdom for those that have the good fortune of having time left here. As I thought about my time here, though, I realized I may have a fresh perspective about CSB/SJU.
You see, as a first-year at St. John’s I had a lot of fun. Dean Mike Connolly said I had a little too much fun, and I was asked to take a semester off.
Being pretty devastated, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I applied to the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and got in.
I spent the year living in Dinkytown and going to school. It was great. I loved the U of M. Lots of new people, always something to do, the classes were challenging and interesting and the nightlife was nothing to sneeze at.
OK, so at this point you may be thinking what on God’s green earth does this have to do with CSB/SJU? The fact is, despite how much I liked the U of M, and even though I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get back into St. John’s, I did it.
I did it because I love the people here. I love that feeling you get when you step onto campus on a warm, sunny day and you see five smiling faces ready to ask you how your day is. I love that all the bartenders in town know me by name. I love being able to walk into any house in St. Joe and be able to find a party. I love that professors actually care about how I do in class.
So, yes, I came back to St. John’s, and I have never looked back. I am actually really grateful for how things went for me. At times, things were hard, but I grew up a lot in those first couple years and it made me really appreciate the things CSB/SJU gives you as a student. That is why I am writing this column.
To everyone that isn’t graduating in a couple weeks here, appreciate what you have. In talking to even the most cynical of people (yeah I am talking about you, Kintop), I consistently hear the same thing: they wish they had done more stuff on campus. They wish they had gotten more involved. They wish they had done all these different things at CSB/SJU they are trying to do now with a few precious weeks left.
I am going to leave you all with a few bits of advice. Get to know as many people as you can. People on this campus may surprise you. Love a lot and don’t hold grudges. Do what makes your heart sing. If you do something, do it as best you can.
Get involved, if nothing else it will make your resumé look good. Don’t worry about finding that special someone, they will find you, when you least expect it.
I just want to say to everyone who knows me that it has been my pleasure to know you. To all my friends, please stay in touch. I love you more than you will ever know. Thank you to the Record staff for everything and, most of all, thank you CSB/SJU.
This is the opinion of Adam Pribyl, an SJU senior.