If Not Now, When?

If Not Now, When?

As a second-semester senior (that sounds so scary to type out), I feel pretty confident in giving advice to college students. I’m almost there, out in the big scary ‘real world’. While I am excited about the next chapter, this is such a strange time in my life. I love college. I love almost everything about it in fact. The friends I have made, the classes I have taken, and the opportunities I have been given. I feel so lucky and it is bittersweet. But my time is winding down. I could go on and on about the things I have learned these past years, however, the one piece of advice I would give to any college student (to-be or current) is: Just do it. Let me explain why. The opportunities that college offers are endless. There is something for everyone. From clubs to sports, services, or relationships. Anything can happen to anyone, that is if you are willing to put yourself out there. I think I am a pretty good example of this. COVID-19 began to spread my freshman year and coming back the following year was tough. I felt stuck and like I fell behind. However, I had somewhat of a mid-college crisis. Perhaps that is dramatic, but I remember thinking to myself about all that time missed and asking myself “what do I want to do to make the rest of my experience count?” So, I came back and put myself out there. I reached out to a class friend and joined the school newspaper. I had never written for them before but I applied anyway. I became a part of something. It turned into so much more than a resume builder, but instead an experience I got to make some of my best friends and make a real impact. I learned so much more about myself, the people around me, and even gained some professional skills. The only thing I wish I did was do it sooner. Now, I may not be pursuing a journalism career but looking back, college is the one place you can do something like write for a newspaper, run for student government, or join any group of students that feel passionate about something that you do. And if you don’t like it, you can have the satisfaction of saying you tried. If you’re thinking about doing something like talking to a new group of people, going up and talking to a cute boy, or joining an organization you feel like you would enjoy working for or with, just do it. If not

now, when? Before you know it, your time to just do it will be gone and a new chapter will begin

MEET THE AUTHOR

Maddy West is a senior at Fairfield University from Stoneham, MA. She is a Politics major with minors in American and Black Studies. Currently, she is the Editor-In-Chief of the university’s independent school newspaper, The Fairfield Mirror. Post-grad, Maddy hopes to work a public service-related job and go to law school within the next few years.