Oftentimes we come to college unsure of who we want to be. But most often, we come not even knowing who we are. And, the decisions we make in the four years we are here help define us.

Can one senior say the person who shuffled boxes into his/her dorm room is the same person who will walk across that podium with diploma in hand?

I know I can’t.

It’s impossible when you are surrounded by new people, new places and new experiences.

In our time here, we get more than just lectures about our field of study — we get a lecture in life. From the moment you move into the dorms and live in close quarters with a complete stranger to your first final to frantically searching for jobs as graduation looms ever closer, you learn about yourself. You learn about relationships and friendships, about how you handle stress, about the demons you carry with you, about what you believe in.

College not only enhances our knowledge of the world, but  it also enhances our perception of self. It forces us to grow up, to find our passions, to take responsibility.

And, I could not be more grateful that I had this learning experience at Colorado State. This university is far from perfect but I admire its commitment to providing students with opportunities to find their place in the world. From a diverse range of  clubs to on-campus resources to sports, you are sure to find the people and passion that help you find yourself. I, for one, don’t know what I would have done without Student Media in my life — I found a family, a home and a passion here.

To my fellow seniors, I hope you are proud of the person who walks across the stage this weekend. You should be. We have accomplished and learned a lot in our time at CSU and we can take on the world with this knowledge.

Best of luck to you in the future, grads!