Live It Up Seniors!

Catherine Klein
Kappa Delta

Senior year is a complicated time that comes with many undocumented rights and privileges. It also comes with a lot of responsibility. 

As students of higher education we all have been preparing for college graduation for close to 15 years.  When the day comes it feels like you will have a sudden realization of the direction you want your life to go in, a five-year plan that will set you up for a successful career, and self-actualization. This moment may not come suddenly or months after you have left college but the longer it takes to arrive the more we can cherish our beloved Alma Mater. 

We all have each put time and money into Virginia Tech; whether you got here by scholarship, financial aid, or the help from relatives and friends, each of us started with a goal to be a Hokie, and we did it. So, make the best of your four years, do things you normally wouldn’t, branch out, be adventurous, and make a mark that will last for years to come.

I surveyed seniors on campus and asked what was on their bucket list for the final semesters at Virginia Tech.  These were the favorites listen in no particular order.

1. Go out every night

This is a realistic number one, yet a challenge. It’s important to graduate but spending enough time DT for staff of local pubs to call you a regular is quite the accomplishment. Treat yourself for the hard work you’ve put into your education so far and abuse the night life of Blacksburg.

2. Graduate with a job

Getting a solid job before graduation would be the icing on top of the cake. It’s a difficult task to accomplish with the state our economy is in but with a degree from Virginia Tech it couldn’t be THAT hard. Working hard at making connections and getting interviews during the first semester of your senior year might make all the difference whether you have your career ensured before or after you graduate.

3. Walk the Huckleberry Trail

Tech has beautiful views that can be seen by the Huckleberry Trail! Take a break and wander this path for an active and scenic walk.

4. Eat at the Homeplace

The Homeplace is located in Catawba, Virginia. It has southern foods that make your mouth melt, so before departing from this area you have to get a taste of this place! For more information visit http://home.jps.net/~kevind/thehomeplace/.

5. Visit the farmers market

Residents of Blacksburg and the surrounding area bring fresh baked goods and produce. Others bring handmade jewelry, preserves, organic bowls, and many other goods.  Visit http://www.blacksburgfarmersmarket.com/ for more information.

6. Dine at Schultz Express

This legendary dining hall serves mostly the Core of Cadets on campus in the Upper Quad. It has a buffet, “sandwich of the day” and a grill with large selections to choose from for lunch. For breakfast it has a full buffet that includes biscuits and gravy, as well as open grill for anything your hungry heart desires.

7. Float down the New River

A quick drive down the road and you can have a long float down the river. It’s a great way to enjoy the hot weather and get a little wet.  For more information go to www.newriverjunction.com/.

8. Hike McAfee Knob

A harder hike than Cascades but this hike has an unforgettable view.  For more information visit www.hikingupward.com/jnf/McAfeeKnob/.

9. Streak across The Drillfield

The feeling of running free through our campus under the orange glow of the Drillfield’s lights would be a risky and bold experience – just don’t get caught.

The time spent at Virginia Tech is unique to each student. The organizations you were a part of, the diligent courses you somehow survived through and the time you wasted doing things that you want to do. After graduation you’re expected to be an active part of our world, improving what is already established and inventing the future. College is the last time in our life where making ridiculous, childish, mistakes are acceptable, but life after college is also about making mistakes. After graduation you will continue to make mistakes and learn from those experiences; yes, we will outgrow much of the hoopla that we cherished in college, but the mistakes we will make after graduating will be just as an important part to each of our lives.

This is many students last semester at Virginia Tech. So you didn’t get the PERFECT internship or you royally fudged up your interview with your dream company, the fact of the matter is that you tried and continue to make goals and strive to achieve them.  Life is short, and college is shorter. 

Everyone will take something away from this place, and it’s important to be proud of the experiences you have been through while in this town, and our second home. Our lives might change as we graduate but we will always have the memories and the diploma to remind us of the “good ol’ days”. Live it up.

Catherine is a junior studying communication and minoring in professional writing. You may contact her at ceklein@vt.edu.