The Last Day of School

Mary wrapping her Secret Santa gift

Our wrapped Secret Santa gifts

Today was the last day of school… It is the last day of school? It is so weird to think about because it feels like just yesterday I was at orientation dancing in a pit of bubbles and tossing eggs. So much has happened in the past four months and I don’t really know a good way to sum it up. I think the best way may be to just tell you what I am doing right now. I just finished doing an hour and a half of P90X yoga with a bunch of my friends in the basement of Corcoran (my residence hall) and now we are all sitting around and getting ready to watch the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. It all seems so natural. I feel as if I have known these people all my life and I can’t imagine being anywhere else in this moment. I feel like I am at home. For this reason, I know Rockhurst was the absolute best choice I could have made when deciding on a school. There are only about 2500 undergrad students and the small number has made all the difference. I see many of the same people every day and we have all become a family. I even feel a sense of community with the people I see in the halls because they always send smiles my way. Although I have never attended a large university, I know this same experience could not be had at one.

Watching Return of the King in the basement [:

The Rockhurst community does not only include the students. The faculty and staff are essential to the success of the university. Rockhurst would not be the same without leaders such as Bill Kriege, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry, or Rev. Thomas Curran, President of Rockhurst University. Their presence inspires students to enjoy their time at school and make the most of every opportunity. These two men are often in the back of my mind as I go through the motions on campus. They have worked so hard to make this campus what it is now and I would not want to ruin that by not living up to their high standards. I would only want to enhance the experience for other students in everything I do. Just being on campus has transformed me. It has been such a nurturing environment spiritually, academically, and socially since day one. I thank God every day for everything Rockhurst has already done for me and will do over the next three and a half years.I hope that one day I can find a way to repay the enormous debt.