1. I have never been to Rathbone Hall.
2. I have never participated in Mocos.
3. I have never been to chicken finger Friday.
You might think, judging by the items on this list, that I am a first-year ready to make the most of her college experience. Ready to make each moment count because four years fly by. Ready for the truth? I am not a first-year, but a senior. In just a few months, I will be walking across the stage to receive my diploma and officially become a Lehigh University graduate.
After having just the list and the fact that I am a senior, many would think, “what has she done in these past years?” or “how could you not go to these activities?” Ready for the final fact? I am a commuter student. Being a commuter student does present its hurdles. It is hard to relate to others who live either on campus or nearby off-campus residences. It’s hard being in a freshman class and have everyone talk about what party they went to last night, or how they went to Hawk’s Nest at 2 a.m. for a milkshake. It made me realize that I never really had the typical college experience, but that does not mean I regret one single moment of what led me to this point.
That is why, this summer, I sat down and made my Lehigh bucket list. I started out by writing down all the things that the typical Lehigh student does and deciding what I wanted to do the most. The list, more importantly, made me realize that I have missed out on events that the majority of students take part in. I only live 10 minutes away from Lehigh and decided to live at home for my whole college career. For me, my social life was the most difficult part of my college experience, not the classes.
The first item on the list that was checked off: Staying at a football game from start to finish. Even though we lost the game, I still enjoyed seeing a Lehigh football game from kickoff to the end of the fourth quarter. The next thing: Lehigh Trivia night. It was nice to sit in Hawk’s Nest, have a bite to eat and play some trivia. The one item that was most recently checked off: my first off-campus party and the president’s Halloween Carnevil.
As I started to check these simple items off, I realized how much fun going to these events were, and maybe how different my experience would be if I just got in my car and drove the 10 minutes to go to these “late-night” events all of my years at Lehigh.
According to Residential Services, there are currently 44 commuter students at Lehigh. With such a low number, it is easy for these people to get lost in the shuffle. These students travel from different parts of the area, go to class, and then travel back home. During my many bus rides, I have found out that the majority of students, at one point or another, have felt left out.
As I checked these many different items off the list, I realized how much Lehigh has taught me. I have been immersed in an environment of professors who inspire me. I have a great group of friends who have surrounded me with love and support when things got difficult. I have been pushed to my utmost limits, but it has only taught me to be stronger.
I will never know what it is like to live in a dorm, have a roommate, or join Greek life. The truth is that that doesn’t carry that much importance to me. My college experience is mine, and we all have different experiences. Some of us do not want to leave, while others want to begin their career.
These years are supposed to be learning years and years of finding ourselves. That is the ultimate goal for any college student: to find something you love and go after it. I know I found what I love, and with that love came my future career path. I love being a part of the newspaper and how I am part of something bigger than myself.
Throughout my Lehigh career, I have made friendships that I know will last through the years. I will look back on all the photos and realize that even though I did college differently, and missed out on some things, I still had a great time.
Finally, on May 18, 2015, my Lehigh bucket list will be complete, and I look forward to making a new list.
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