Seniors, do you feel like you have had the full college experience?

By JACE JETT News Contributor

As Spring Term comes to a close, we asked graduating seniors to reflect on their time at Oregon State University and answer the question: Do you feel like you have had the full college experience?

Maryssa Reynoso

(she/her)

Psychology Major & Anthropology Minor

Hometown: Watsonville, CA

Megan Wagner

(she/her)

Biology Major

Hometown: Newport, OR

“No. Partially because the first couple of years were online. It was interesting. It was a different experience. I’m not really sure what the full college experience would be. But I’ve been happy in the last two years being on campus and for the experiences that I have had.”

Lineth Trujillo Morales

(she/her)

Biology Major

Hometown: Reno, NV

“I think to an extent. I think because I was here before COVID and … I was still here afterwards. So, I think that I definitely lost a good chunk of the college experience in that time, but getting to see it before and after really showed … what it could have been had I been there for four years, you know, without COVID. So I think, for what we went through, I got the most of it … given all the circumstances, I got the college experience.”

Carter James (he/him)

Bioengineering Major

Hometown: Lake Oswego, OR

“I feel like, honestly, because of COVID I missed, what, two years of my college experience?

I feel like I made up for it a lot. I found the community of people I really enjoy and, you know, I feel like I got a great education. I feel like I had fun in my free time, but it still kind of sucks that I missed part of that, honestly. Trying to make Skate Club welcome on campus — because we were here for a while and then we got booted — trying to get people more okay with my community, or the community I love and all my friends and just feeling accepted here has been kind of a challenge. But I’m hopeful and I see a future for the club here. It’s just kind of rough but I feel like by the end of this term, and by the time I graduate, that yeah, I will have had the full college experience.”

Stuart Helikson

(he/him)

Chemical Engineering Major

Hometown: Eugene, OR

“Oh yeah. Yeah, definitely. I definitely don’t feel like the first couple of years I did, just because of the pandemic, it was kind of rough. But … I think this year I feel like it’s actually the college experience. I think what it was for me was walking to the library at 10:30 at night to finish an assignment and people in the library just goofing around. I don’t know, something about just existing as a human and being able to sleep anywhere on campus, it’s definitely part of the experience. Especially after being in the student government I feel like I’ve gotten to meet a lot of community members. So yeah, I’d say I’ve gotten the college experience.

Drake Scrafford

(he/his)

Marine Biology Major & Chemistry Minor

Hometown: Eugene, OR

“I would say so … I guess to elaborate on that I graduated high school before COVID hit in 2019 and was able to live in the dorms a little bit before (COVID-19) happened. Throughout that I got the dorm experience, which I think is part of the college experience. And then, where we have the option to explore my major and get all the experiences and talk to people, network, get the academics that I really wanted to get. So overall, yes, I would think so.”

Kotaro Chavez

(he/his)

Sociology Major

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

“I think so. I mean, I kind of missed out because of COVID. So I missed out on the spring term of my freshman year and my sophomore year … but, for the most part, yeah. I met so many cool people through my classes and I’ve gone to some clubs and … even the Craft Center right here; I just come hang out. So yeah, absolutely.” I have had.”

“I guess not really, because of COVID, but I think I’ve gotten what I want … I’ve tried to incorporate myself in different communities … as I could.

I’ve done a lot of sports and whatnot, doing a lot of non-teams and whatnot.

I’ve really enjoyed that. Freshman year I was definitely more of a social bird but I still try to … in my major and whatnot in engineering in general, I tried to be a part of different communities and whatnot and to help out. I’ve been TA-ing the past year, which is really fun and something that’s been new.”

Karsyn Brinkley

(she/her)

Kinesiology Major

Hometown: Vancouver, WA

“Yes. I was involved in athletics and Greek life, and I got a job here in Corvallis so I got the opportunity to meet a lot of people.”