Approaching Graduation: The Final Lap

As the spring semester kicks off, the realization that this is my final semester at Loras has set it. I will be taking the traditional route of a college student by graduating in four years. I believe it is my responsibility, as a graduating student, to leave some helpful reminders to younger students here at Loras. Take these tips as much or as little as you want. But to those who read and accept these tips, I hope they find you well.

Put Yourself Out There

One of the most important things anyone can do at Loras is put yourself out there. College is an amazing place to define who you are as a person. However, the only way to find out who you are is by experiencing everything Loras has to offer. You may find yourself to be uncomfortable at times. Being uncomfortable is okay! Experiencing new things should be uncomfortable at times because, well, you’ve never experienced it before. Go to the CAB events, go to the Loras sporting events, go to everything and anything Loras has to offer. You may not have a group to go with you. That is perfectly fine because it allows you to meet new people. Over my four years, not once have I had students not accept me into a group at a social event. Be an active member of the Loras Community. The benefits will never end and the memories you make will last a lifetime.

Don’t be Afraid to Fail

I personally believe that failing is underrated. Now, failing a class is not the type of failure I am talking about. Try your very best not to fail a class. What I am talking about is the failure that comes with your day-to-day life. Sometimes the world will not align with what you had in mind. Maybe you wanted that internship more

By KEEGAN A. GODWIN

than anything in the world. Maybe you thought that someone was the one. Maybe you thought that sport was meant for you. Unfortunately, things do not always work out the way we want. We are dealt blow after blow. But, going back to what I talked about earlier, our failures define us. Let me explain. Everyone is amazing when we win or get what we want. But, who you are after a failure is the true you. Are you someone who can handle failure? Or are you someone who cannot get over the fear of failing? Being able to handle and control yourself after a failure is one of the most important life skills to carry with you. I encourage you to change your view on failure and roll with life’s punches.

Try Not to Complain Life is difficult. We are all aware of this. Being a college student only makes it more difficult for us. When life gets difficult, it is only human to complain. However, I have found that complaining is one of the most useless traits to possess. I used to complain all the time when life got difficult. I learned that by not complaining and getting straight to work, your problems go away a lot faster than complaining about an unfortunate situation. It’s a very simple tip, but one that goes a long way.

Always Try Your Hardest No matter what you are doing, always give it everything you have. Whether it is for a class, for sports, or even in a relationship, always give it your 100%. By not putting all of your efforts into something, you are only hurting yourself, and in some cases, the people around you. You must believe in yourself and your ability to succeed. With that mindset, you are going to see an improvement in

everything you do.

Care About Those Around You

It is easy to get caught up in the college life. Balancing classes and other obligations, you may be struggling to put others’ needs on your radar. Being busy does not excuse you from caring about other people. No one wants to be friends with a selfish person. It’s a little corny, but be the change you want to see in the world. You wouldn’t want someone to be a jerk to you, so never be a jerk to others. Always try your hardest to be a kind person. A bad reputation will follow you around for the rest of your life. Ensure that your reputation is one that leaves a positive impact on those you interact with.

Not all of these tips will be applicable to everyone who reads this. Not all these tips will have an immediate impact on your life. But, take these from someone who has been through four years of experience here at Loras. I have failed, I have complained, and I have slacked off. But I didn’t let that define me. I have put in the work over my time at Loras and I hope that I can make someone’s experience here just a little bit better.