CAMMIE BAGLEY Executive Director & News Editor
When I sat down to think about all the things I could say about my time at Piedmont, my mind went blank. I don’t know how to fit four years’ worth of laughter, tears, hard work, good times and bad into a couple hundred words because my time here has been so much more than that. So rather than write a sappy goodbye letter about all the ways that Piedmont has impacted me, I’m just going to leave behind a list of advice from a senior who has learned a lot about life in the last four years.
1. Don’t wait until the last minute to care about your school work. Part of coming to college is about having fun and letting loose, but it’s also about getting an education. There is a way to have fun and do well in school, so find that balance and maintain it.
2. Finding the right major will take time. If what you’re studying doesn’t feel right or you’re not enjoying the things that you’re learning about, change your major. It’s not the end of the world to be confused about what you want to do for the rest of your life. Take a deep breath and, in time, you will figure it out.
3. When you get fed up with the small community that is Piedmont, take a break and go home or get off campus. Sometimes it can become overwhelming to know everything about everyone, so instead of letting that drive you crazy, take a step back and walk away for a little while.
4. When you get sick of eating in the caf every day, and you will, look up healthy recipes that you can make in your dorm. Sometimes a meal that’s healthy and actually tastes good can change your mood, so set some money aside for a Walmart trip, and don’t torture yourself by starving or forcing yourself to eat caf food.
5. Get involved around campus. Whether it be a sport, a club or a leadership position, do something. Being here and not doing anything outside of your classwork isn’t going to do you any good when looking for a job, and if nothing else, you can meet people through those organizations.
6. Don’t try and be best friends with everyone you encounter. This is a small place, so you’ll most likely know pretty much everyone. But that doesn’t mean that you should trust or be close to every single one of them. You know that saying, “It’s better to have four quarters than 100 pennies”- well it’s true. Not everyone you meet is meant to be your bestie. Be close to those who genuinely care about you and stop worrying about the rest.
7. When you want to go out the night before an 8 a.m., don’t try to convince yourself that you’ll get up and go. Either accept that you’re skipping or suck it up and go even when you don’t feel good. But before you decide to skip, check the attendance policy because there’s a chance it could affect your grade, and that’s not worth it.
8. If you’re overwhelmed and you want to do nothing but have an emotional breakdown because school is way too much to handle at times, do it. Cry it out, scream it out, dance it out- whatever it takes to de-stress, do it.
9. Don’t allow a relationship to hold you back in any way. Never let a boyfriend or girlfriend change who you are or the things that you care about. It’s not worth spending your time in college trying to please another person if they can’t allow you to be exactly who you are.
These are just a few things that I learned in my four years here at Piedmont. Some may apply to you and some may not, but whatever you do, don’t waste your time here. It goes by faster than you think and while the real world is exciting, it’s also terrifying. It’s been good and it’s been bad, Piedmont. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
