College is one of those inevitable things. The cliché to “watch out because it will go by fast!” is completely accurate. One day it will just slap you in the face how fast your time in college has gone by. This happened to me about a week ago. I was at my sorority’s senior send-off, which is a party for the graduating seniors celebrating their relationships with their sisters and their accomplishments made during our undergraduate careers. All of a sudden that night I had all of these amazing women come up to me and hug me and describe how much I have meant to them. Quite literally my sorority sisters stated to my face the woman who I had always aspired to be. But this time it wasn’t me describing who I wanted to be in the future, but who people saw me as today – in this very moment. Often times young people in college are far too hard on themselves. We were raised within a generation that is born to be competitive, independent and overly confident. So often we do not give ourselves enough credit for the work we have produced. I fall victim to this every day. Looking back on my time at Christopher Newport, I regret not congratulating myself in the moment on the things that I have accomplished during my undergraduate career.

Growing up is inevitable. It’s something I can’t stop. I remember one day having someone telling me to compare life to a train. A train keeps going on a schedule, but a train also has many stops along the way. College is one of my stops along the tracks. Christopher Newport has given me incredible friends, amazing mentors, a beautiful environment, support, kindness, opportunity for leadership and an opportunity to develop into the woman I am today. Four years ago, I adamantly did not want to go to this school. Today I find myself tearing up on the Great Lawn because I don’t want to leave. Christopher Newport has given me beyond an amazing experience and if you have chosen to go here I congratulate you! The only advice I have left to give is that you get out of it what you put into it. So throw your inhibitions to the wind and set sail at Christopher Newport because trust me, you won’t regret it.

Signing off one last time. T-minus 18 days to Graduation…. #HastaLaVista

Dan has been with me since the first day of class. Dan is the longest relationship I have ever had. Dan and I do everything together. He carries my books for me, makes sure I have my ID ready when I’m in line at Einsteins, and is always there supporting me during those late nights in the library. I really feel lost without him. He has a pocket for everything! If Dan is with me, I know that everything is going to be OK!

Dan has even let me use him as a pillow on the Great Lawn; what a gentleman! All I’m saying is that every girl, nay every person, needs a friend like Dan. Dan is an essential for your college lifestyle. Dan is getting up there in age and beginning to show some tears, rips and wear, which I don’t blame him for because we have been through quite a lot together! Dan has been to three different countries, had mac and cheese spill in him, carried six textbooks at a time and has basically never left my side. He’s my day one homie.

So all you college seekers out there: when your mom takes you to the store and wants to get you the nice backpack say “Yes!” because it will be the best thing that has ever happened to you! The nice backpack can carry incredible weights without wrenching out your back and will always stay together during tough times. So go out and find yourself a backpack like Dan, cause boy, he’s a keeper!

So yesterday I had a harsh realization… In a few months I might be living on my own.

I’m a senior and I have four weeks of undergraduate classes left – ever. I’ve spent four years of my life on the Christopher Newport campus making friends, studying, going to events, giving presentations and living with my roommate. My roommate and I met because we lived in the same hall freshman year and since then we’ve lived together for three years in a row. She’s my best friend, my confidant, my person. She knows me better than I know myself. We have gotten to the point where she can take one look at me and instantly know my mood and what’s on my mind. We have had some of the most amazing times together. We have basically watched each other grow into young adults. Some of my favorite memories are of running into each other in the kitchen and both saying we had to go to bed but three hours later we found ourselves sitting on the floor laughing, still talking with a tub of ice cream. We joke that we are basically an old married couple at this point.

The other day I realized that our era is coming to an end and it basically slapped me in the face. I am fortunate enough to have a job lined up after graduation but I have not received my placement yet so when it comes to looking for apartments or attempting to find roommates at this point of the year I’m at a disadvantage. If I do end up living with a roommate I’m going to have to get to know them and begin the process of figuring each other out all over again. They won’t know which of my clothes don’t go in the dryer, they won’t know my favorite shows, they won’t know to wake me up for late night CookOut runs (please, please let there be a CookOut near where ever my future home is), they won’t know that when I’m still asleep at 3 p.m. on a Saturday I’m not dead, I’m just recharging, they just won’t know. I know that whoever I live with might also turn into one of my best friends and it might be a great experience, but it’s that fact that I have to leave this behind that is making me really nervous, nostalgic and maybe just a little sad.

Last Friday I woke up and felt absolutely awful! I had a runny nose, sinus pressure, a huge headache, body aches and a sore throat. I felt like a walking Petri dish. The worst part about it all was that there were no warning signs this was about to hit me. Normally in college, you will have some tell-tale signs you may be getting sick. Usually, it’s a small scratch in the back of your throat, a slight runny nose or maybe just general drowsiness. But last Friday I just got knocked on my butt and the punch came out of nowhere!

The worst part was that my dad was in town that weekend visiting. My dad is such an incredible guy and whenever he comes to visit we always go on the best adventures and find cool things to do in the community. But there I was – a giant pile of sniffles. We did have a good time, I just wish I had been more up for some adventuring. His visit was much-needed and seeing him did make me feel better. (Side note: whenever your parents come to visit you in college, cherish it! They took time out of their schedule to come spend time with you because they love you more than you will ever know!)

So Sunday night I went to bed around 9 p.m., thinking that if I got a good night’s sleep I would be prepared to take on a day of classes in the morning. At that point I was feeling pretty gross but not too deathly. However, I woke up Monday morning and I felt like death. I couldn’t think because my head was pounding so much, I had no voice, I sounded like a chipmunk and my nose would not stop running. You know you’ve had a bad night when you still could barely sleep after taking a full dose of NyQuil. So what did I do? I skipped class.

Yup, I skipped class; I skipped all of them. On Monday all I did was sleep, eat soup, sleep and watch some Netflix. I don’t have class on Tuesday/Thursday which was super helpful because on Tuesday I did exactly the same thing. I slept, I ate soup, I slept and watched Netflix. I canceled all my lunch dates for the week, avoided all responsibilities, called out of work and decided to hole myself up in my room, hibernation style. On Wednesday I got up, went to class, and went straight back to bed. On Thursday I slept until 2 p.m. On Friday I finished my second Netflix series of the week.

Now, you are probably reading this and saying to yourself, “Isn’t that incredibly irresponsible? How can you do that? Is that even possible?” And to that I say: “I got this.” One of the most important lessons you will learn in college is to take time for yourself. Last week I took care of myself. I didn’t have any major assignments due, I was way behind on my Netflix and I was sick. I responsibly chose to shut myself in my room and because of that this week I am on top of my game and feeling 100 percent better.

Sing along if you please…

Hello. It’s me.

I was wondering if after all these weeks you’d like to meet

To go over everything

They say that time’s supposed to teach you all

But I ain’t done much learning

Hello, can you hear me

I’m on an island in the Caribbean floating by the beach

We’re so tan and stress free

I’ve forgotten how it felt before midterms disturbed my sleep

There’s such a distance between us

And I’m a million cares away.

Hello from the cruise ship side

I must have repacked a thousand times

To make sure I have everything that I need

But when I board I’m missing all of my shoes

Hello from the pool side

At least I can say that I tried

To make sure I passed all of my midterms

But it don’t matter because the grades are undeniable

Hello, how are you?

It’s so wonderful to see you so relaxed and carefree

I hope that you’ve slept all week

Did you see they have a new season on Netflix for this week

It’s no secret that all of us

Are running out of time

So hello from my puppy’s side

I must have cuddled a thousand hours

Don’t judge that it’s everything I’ve done

Because I know your Instagram shows you’re at home

Hello from the mountain side

At least I skied a bunch of times

I know that it’s going to end

But right now it so perfect I don’t want to think of school

Hello from the airplane side

It must be time to quit our paradise

To return to our desk in library

But I’ll always have memories from our time

Hello from the classroom door

At least I can’t fight it anymore

So begin the rest of the semester

Let’s make sure we kick butt for weeks to come.

The athlete’s life is grueling, time-consuming, stressful and arduous. Why do they do it? Why do athletes repeatedly wake up at ungodly hours to put themselves through strenuous physical and mental activity? Why do athletes give up much of their social life to be on the road and compete at far-off schools? Why do athletes put themselves through the stress of time managing their days up to the minute? Maybe for professional athletes it’s the money and the drive to be the best in history. Maybe for Division I and Division II collegiate athletes it’s about the scholarship, the experience and the ability to make a name for themselves. But what is it for Division III athletes?

D3 athletes don’t get scholarships. They don’t receive special treatment in the classroom. They don’t have special excessive services offered to them. They don’t have separate priority housing. Why continue to play? When offered no major perks, why do D3 athletes continue to relinquish their personal lives to wear their school’s colors and compete for them on a national level?

The life of a D3 athlete is about perseverance and self-sacrifice. These athletes don’t have to play. They have no scholarship riding on their performance. These athletes play for the sake of the game. They put themselves through physical and mental duress because they love what they do. The game-day feeling is kryptonite. The athletes at Christopher Newport are some of the most hardworking, persevering, dedicated, kind, fun, thoughtful people I know on this campus. So when you come here and you get to watch these incredible athletes play, proudly wearing our school colors, know they are there because they want to be – because they are proud to represent an amazing University doing something they know and love.

The game: little hunting

Purpose: For women in sororities to meet with the new members in their organization in hopes of creating a strong connection with one of them and obtaining said new member as their “little sister.”

Strategy: Varies by participant. Some sisters choose to focus on a few girls that they feel will be a best “fit” for them. Others try to meet every new member to have a general knowledge about who they think they would “fit” with and who they wouldn’t.

[Definition of fit: the feeling you get when you meet someone who you know you were meant to meet and somehow be involved in their life.]

Territory: Einstein’s, dining halls, and the DSU

Time: Generally an hour to an hour-and-a-half.

Play: First step: casual conversation. Year, major, hometown, siblings, family, how the semester is going, etc. Second step: dive into more in-depth conversation. Examples: What did she find appealing about this sorority? What values that the organization has really resonate with her? How does she see herself contributing to the chapter? Goal: search for the instant spark (see definition of “fit”).

This sounds absurd: In the short sense, little hunting is basically speed dating for sorority women. We have plays and tactics and sometimes there might be a little tension. But this tension comes from the wanting to show a new member so much love it causes us to be competitive about who has more love to give.

Surprising facts: Little hunting is not easy and does take a lot of time and energy. While people look at little hunting as ridiculous, you would be surprised at how many valuable skills comes out of this once a year activity. The women on both sides of the game are being pushed outside of their comfort zones. The ability to speak with someone who you have never meet before in a manner that exhibits trust and compassion can be difficult and during this crazy time of year sorority women get to practice these skills. Many like to think of little dating as a safe and comfortable networking exercise that helps their confidence grow and allows them to take these skills beyond campus to future employers, relationships with professors, the beginning of new friendships and much more.

Reference: An overwhelmed senior who has experienced little hunting for the first time. This experience has given me so much more than just closer relations with my sisters. I truly have seen my confidence and ability to speak easily with others grow. Many people may judge Greek life and the customs and traditions that these organizations have. Many stereotype what Greek life is all about, but I am here to tell you that at Christopher Newport Greek life is something different; it’s something special. During my time here I have seen so many amazing young Greek men and women grow and blossom into incredible young professionals. Greek life will give you amazing friendships, support and memories, but it will also give you the opportunity to become the best version of yourself that you can possibly be. As for little hunting, it was crazy, but I loved every minute of it and I cannot wait for my little to find out who I am!

Throughout your time at college you will discover many things about yourself. Along your path of self enlightenment, you will also learn exactly what your body needs and when it needs it. My junior year, I finally figured a few things out that I would like to share in hopes that others will figure these things out sooner.

1. Know when your body needs a nap.

When entering college I had heard of the college nap phenomenon. I’m sure it can be statistically shown that college kids take more naps than any other age group. This is partly because most of our sleeping schedules are extremely disrupted but also sometimes just because we can. When I first came to Christopher Newport, I used naps as a reward. If everything on my extensive to-do list was done (including a clean room and all my homework) I would allow myself to take a glorious nap. Let me tell you friends: this is totally the wrong nap philosophy. Naps should be used and respected when you need them, not as a reward and not as part of procrastination. I take a nap when my body tells me I need to. If I am attempting to do homework and just can’t seem to stay focused or get the hang of it or my eyes keep drooping while I’m reading, I know I need a nap. I pack up, excuse myself from the library, retreat to my haven of a bed and sleep for at least 30 minutes. After I wake up, I feel refreshed, focused and ready to go. Let your body tell you when to nap and don’t fight it.

2. You deserve those French fries.

You don’t deserve them all the time or every day – but, sometimes your body needs some French fries. Gaining weight in college is extremely likely and will probably happen to you. I’m not trying to scare you, I’m being real with you. In college you’re not sleeping regularly, you stay up at unnatural hours and you often don’t eat exactly as you should. I’m not saying you are going to turn into a balloon, but your jeans might get a little tighter. Some days you just really, really, really want those French fries. Eat them. Don’t regret eating them. They were delicious. You had a hard day, those fries needed you as much as you needed them. So take care of yourself, eat healthy and don’t punish yourself for splurging every once in a while.

3. If you get sick, don’t forget to ask for help.

The first time you ever get sick at school is the absolute worst because it’s the first time you are sick without mom. You feel awful and very alone. Even though you are surrounded by people, without your mom there to take care of you everything seems much more stressful and complicated. All of a sudden you have to go get your own medicine, make your own soup, buy your own tissues and attempt to still keep up with all your school work. When you get sick, you need to know how to ask for help. It may seem like you against the world, but you have friends, roommates and other comrades who will be more than happy to help you get better. That’s one of the things that is so magical about college. You might not have mom, but you have a different army of support that is more than willing to run errands and make sure you have everything you need. Don’t be afraid to ask people for help. This also includes your psychological state! College is hard, so if you ever start to have feelings or thoughts that you have never felt which begin to affect your life negatively, you can always ask for help. You’re not weak; it’s a sign of strength to ask for what you need.

Long story short: college is difficult. It takes time to get used to. As you fall into routines, remember to pay close attention to what your body needs. Take care of yourself, and college will be the best thing you have ever experienced!

Not to get deep or anything, but it is the truth. As much as we encourage people not to judge by appearance – we all fall victim to taking part in stereotypes. The reality is that there is a lot of truth to stereotypes. I may categorize someone by the way that they act, the way they dress and who they hang out with, but in my mind that isn’t a negative thing. At Christopher Newport every student has a stereotype. It’s unavoidable. The stereotypes we gain on campus are our traits that stand out the most to others. In society, stereotypes are seen as negative because they are seen as a judgement of another person. In film and literature, stereotypes are often used to alienate or humiliate someone who is different from the majority.

But, here at Christopher Newport, stereotypes take on a new form. Most of us embrace the stereotypes that fall upon us. We accept them because we identify with them as a part of who we are. Everyone knows that a person cannot be defined by just one description so while we all have stereotypes we also know that is not where a person’s personality ends. Because we choose to embrace these stereotypes, they are not used in a negative fashion. I have never felt left out or alienated by anyone here based on who they thought I was. The Christopher Newport community is one that is indescribable. We blur the lines of stereotypes. At Christopher Newport, we will not limit you to one description. At Christopher Newport, students identify themselves in many different ways.

I am an athlete. I am a sorority girl. I am a business student. I am a leadership dork. I am campus leader. I am active volunteer in the community. I am a youth development advocate. I am an intellectual. I am all of these things together. Christopher Newport has given me the opportunity to be all of these things – just as it will give anyone the opportunity to be anything they want to be.

Statement: “College will go by faster than you think.”

Fact: “College goes by faster than you think.”

In my first class of my last semester of senior year, I sat down and began talking with the people around me. It was a lower level class and I quickly learned that I was surrounded by freshmen and sophomores. One of them turned to me and said, “Wow, this is your last semester? I can’t even imagine that! I’ll be halfway done after this semester and it already seems like it has gone by so fast!”

To tell you the truth I nearly fainted after she said that. I had a flashback to the very day that I finished my sophomore year. I was giddy. Half-way done with college. I was proud of what I had accomplished and so thrilled that I still had two more years left. At the time it seemed like forever and I remember thinking I would cherish every moment of it and it would go by so slowly. I laugh thinking about it now.

I’m finishing up my last first week of classes as an undergrad, and I can’t help but reminisce everywhere I turn about my time here at Christopher Newport. This week I had dinner at Brickhouse with one of my closest friends that I’ve had since freshman year and all we could do as we gobbled up a basket of bacon cheese fries was laugh and talk about the many amazing times we have had. We met at admitted freshman day in 2012, we both went to the same SLAP week and stayed up until 4 a.m. talking one night, we had lived together the summer after our sophomore year, we had gone to numerous campus events together always willing to support the other’s endeavors. It dawned on me at dinner that an era of my life is coming to an end. I wouldn’t be able to just text her and see if she wanted to go to Cookout at 2 a.m.

The cliché that college goes by quickly doesn’t truly hit you until your last semester of college. All of a sudden you realize the habits and routines that you have formed to get through everyday life will no longer be necessary and you will have to go through trial and error to figure them out again. Graduating college is a ceremonious occasion and as excited as I am to be seen as a responsible young adult in the eyes of society, I can’t help but want to be in high school again.

So as I continue to mentally prepare myself that this is my last semester of college I choose to make sure I make the most of it. Anything I have been wanting to try or do I promise myself that I will not leave this campus until I do it! The best advice I can give is to live each day to its best possible potential – because these days won’t last forever!