Senior year and graduation...bring it on!

Samantha Strub
Class of 2013

(9/2102) That is the one word that hits me as I look at what this year will bring. I’m a senior…how did that happen? It seems like only yesterday that my parents are I were loading up and driving out East to start my four years at Mount St. Mary University. I remember being so nervous having to drive across five states by myself and meet all new people. How quickly that nervousness went away as I now make the drive from Wisconsin to Maryland and back at least three times a year. That long drive is a force of habit now. As long as my iPod is charged, I’m good to go.

Graduation is now staring at me in the face. It is only 9 months away. That is right around the corner! I’m going to be walking across the stage to receive my degree before I even have time to blink. That is unreal to me, even though I have waited for graduation day to come since my freshman year, claiming that I wanted to start my career and be on my own. That independent spirit of mine always seems to come back to bite me in the butt when it comes to things like this. I should have not as talked about graduating so much and enjoyed the ride a little more. However, I think I have made it through my years in college because I’m always focused on what’s next. That focus has helped me create the balance of working hard and having fun. Some people made fun of me for always working very hard in my studies while they were off having fun. All through college I was balancing my responsibilities, work and studies with relaxing or taking adventures with my friends. Since I was always so busy, these relaxing or spontaneous adventures with friends were very special for me, as I was able to step away from reality.

Like the other members of the Class of 2013, I have many cherished memories from the days we made a spontaneous adventure, stayed up all night, relaxed outside, went down to Frederick, gossiped, or had a cooking and baking party in our apartment. There are many times when my friends and I were up late (not by choice) doing homework or studying for finals. We would all be in the common room laughing and rolling on the floor while trying to focus, but we were so exhausted that we couldn’t and instead we would drink more caffeine and plug on. Some of my fondest memories come from the spontaneous exertions or the late nights; those are memories that will stay with me forever.

In 9 short months the Class of 2013 is going to be facing the real world, not the college world that we have been living in for the last four years. We will really be adults and go out on our own. We will be applying for jobs that we will love and be passionate about; not just a 9-5 job that we have been working at over the summers in order to save money for tuition, food and gas. Hopefully the Class of 2013 will have fulfilling careers in their degree fields. That is my hope for after graduation: to have a fulfilling career in which I will make in a difference in society and in my personal case, in the lives of my students. I want to be a role model, someone for them to come to and look to for help and guidance while learning the English principles and concepts, which is my duty to teach them.

This dream is finally going to be coming true. I have wanted to become a teacher since I discovered it was my passion in high school. I fell in love with literature and the escape from reality that a book offers to the world. I want to share that love of literature with future generations. I want to show them that a whole new world opens for them in the pages of a novel. That blank screen they open on their computer screen or the paper and pencil in front of them can be transformed into anything that their heart desires. I want to take my students under the spell of a good book. In showing the future generations this world, I want to make a difference in their lives, whether it is in their lives at school or being a pillar for them to rely on when they have no one else to turn to.

The reality of this dream is coming into existence; some days I’m ready for it while other days I want everything to slow down. Some days I’m ready for the challenges that the new world of teaching will bring and the difference that I will be able to make on the world, while other days I’m nervous for being completely independent. It is intimidating going off and living in the real adult life world so to speak. I will be completely independent and responsible for myself, which sadly includes all of my own expenses. That in itself is intimidating. Not to mention that I will have students relying on me for the knowledge that I will teach them.

However, before I can embark on that avenue of my life I have to complete the upcoming year. During those 9 months up until graduation, my plan is to work hard while still having fun. I want to come away with amazing memories from my senior year that will stay with me for a lifetime. I want more of those crazy nights that we will never forget because it is those memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. I want to try new things while still pursuing my passions. Most of all, I want to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

That desire to make a difference will come to a reality in the plan for me this semester. The plan is to gain experience teaching through my internship. This semester brings about an interesting change, as I will be interning at my old high school, Trinity Academy. It will be a valuable experience teaching three full classes by myself as well as doing writing workshops and tutoring for the students who are struggling. The other exciting opportunity that I will be experiencing this fall is being the assistant coach for Trinity’s varsity field hockey team. This is yet another way that I can share one of my passions with future generations and be a resource and a role model for them in the process. In addition to interning at Trinity, I will be doing an education and communication independent study. It looks to be an exciting semester full of new experiences and challenges. I will be learning a lot. It will all prepare me for improving my teaching style and growing as both a student and a professional. I believe that I’m prepared for the challenge and will be prepared for any challenges that this semester will bring.

Senior year and graduation...bring it on!

Read past editions of Samantha Strub's Four Years at the Mount