For many of us on campus, graduation is coming up very quickly, 12 days and counting to be exact. It feels just like yesterday the school year was starting. I know I am starting to get nervous for graduation and everything that comes after it, meaning ‘adulting’. Before we leave campus and start our way into the workforce, I think there are things each student who goes to Millersville should do in order to make their time on campus complete. As we came to MU for our first year, we thought we had a lot of time, but with classes and everything in between, time went by quicker than we expected. So, I created a list of things you might want to cross off your checklist if you are graduating in May.
- Place a penny on the Marauder Statue.
We have all heard the stories of placing a penny on the statue for good luck. Many of my friends do not believe it helps or does anything, but I actually place a penny on the statue before every finals week to give me the extra luck I need to ace my finals.
- Watch Miller and S’ville swim around in the pond on a beautiful day.
Miller and S’ville are our campus swans who inhabit the pond located by Dilworth and Wickersham. They are very interesting and many students like to watch them make their way around the pond. Just be sure to not ruffle their feathers!
- Get something to eat from the Marauder Express.
Many students are passionate about the food truck and it is starting back up again just in time to grab something if you have not yet. They have the campus favorite, ‘the Ville-a-nator’, which many students love and enjoy, so make sure to give it a try!
- Go to a sporting event with your friends.
Cheering on our Marauders is a great way to show school spirit and display your Marauder pride in your last couple days on campus.
- Spend some time exploring the city of Lancaster with your friends.
Lancaster is a very interesting city and was recently named ‘one of the coolest U.S. cities to visit in 2019’ by Forbes. So make sure you visit some of the trendy cafés and local businesses before you leave the area!
- Buy a coffee or other drink from Saxbys.
Saxbys is our campus café that attracts many students each day with their delicious bagels and coffee drinks. Make sure to visit to grab a cold brew or to just sit in their beautifully decorated café to listen to some great playlists!
- Play a game of frisbee or catch on the Quad.
The quad is the area located between the residence halls and Gordinier. It is the perfect area to hang out with friends on a sunny day or start up a game of catch. You will often see students relaxing and playing music to get away from the stress of schoolwork. It is a must if you have some free time to spare!
- Take a walk through campus.
As a result of many busy schedules and having classes in only certain academic buildings, chances are you have not been inside a lot of buildings or places on campus. Taking a walk through can show you some of the hidden study places you have been missing out on.
- Go to the dining hall and eat like you are trying to gain the freshman 15 just one more time.
Some of us have moved off campus and do not have a dining plan anymore, so we do not eat at the Upper Deck as often as we used to. It can be nice to go there one more time to eat a bunch of the foods you used to eat all the time as a freshman. You can also try to meet up with some of your old friends you would eat dinner with every night.
10 . Hangout with your friends from freshman year.
Sometimes because of schedules and living situations, we do not see our friends we made from freshman year as often as we would like. So in your last couple weeks on campus, try to contact them to see if they would like to meet up and reminisce about your first couple days or months on campus and the best memories you shared.
11. Pull an all-nighter with your roommate(s).
Sometimes schedules are crazy and you do not get to spend enough time with your friends or roommates. So in your last couple nights, try to stay up all night with them to spend that extra time with them because in a little bit you will not be seeing them everyday.
12. Buy a t-shirt or sweatshirt with your graduation class on it or alumni items from the University Bookstore.
Buying a t-shirt with your graduation year on it is a great keepsake to have to look back on your time at college. Also, alumni items are great to wear around to show your Marauder Pride after you graduate! You can find Class of 2019 items and alumni merchandise here.
13. Take pictures in front of famous MU landmarks.
If you are graduating, chances are you are going to want to take pictures to remember your time on campus. So, grab your friends and take pictures in front of the most recognizable places on campus or the places you spent the most time at. For example, I know I want to take pictures near the big Millersville University sign at the front of campus, the Biemesderfer Center and of course the pond. Here are some other great places to get pictures taken!
14. Look back at the all the hard work and courses you have taken during your time here.
Sometimes it is good to look back at all the assignments and projects you had to complete to get you to where you are. These assignments can show you how much you learned and the type of things you are capable of completing.
15. Thank the people who were with you for the last four/five/six years of your life.
However long it has taken you to get to this point, you are graduating and I am sure there were people in your life who have helped you get to this point. It is important to thank your friends, parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers and anyone else you may have gotten advice or support from. This is a big moment and it is important to look back on how you got to this point and who supported you! You should be proud of yourself.