Staff Commentary: A Fresh Perspective

As the school year comes to an end, we get the opportunity to do a lot of reflecting and evaluating. We rate the performance of everyone from the people that make our food to the people that teach us in the classroom.

I decided that after evaluating the performance of everyone else, I should take some time to look in the mirror and evaluate myself during my freshman year. I realized that I learned an awful lot in such a short period of time. I learned some from my very expensive textbooks, but I think I may have learned more outside of the classroom.
Mostly, I learned about myself. For the first time in my life, I really felt like I was an adult. The days of my parents watching over me were gone forever. From now on, I will have a lot more responsibility in my life.

My main job at JCU was to be a student. Living away from home taught me responsibility.
I could go out on the weeknights or skip a class and no one would even notice. It was my job to get to class and get good grades.
Quickly, I saw that college isn’t exactly like Animal House.
I learned a lot about time management as the distractions at school are plentiful. Sometimes you have to say “no” to a game of Madden or a trip to every freshman’s mecca on the corners of Cedar and Lee to get some work done.

I discovered how much my family means to me. I would no longer see the people that had been such a huge part of my life on a daily basis. Last year at this time, I couldn’t wait to leave my house and get away from my five younger siblings. Now, I can’t wait to go home and hangout with them this summer.
I realized how much my friends mean to me. Not seeing them at school every day was tough to get used to.
While I could certainly make new friends, I missed the people I made high school memories with. Luckily, I have managed to keep in touch with most of them.
I learned what (I think) I want to do. Through my employment with the Sports Information Department and my time with The Carroll News, I realized that I want to pursue a career in some form of sports media.

I learned a lot of valuable lessons in just over eight months at JCU.
As tuition climbs to over $34,000 next year and I see how much money I spent in one year, it’s nice to know that some of the best things you can learn are free.