My time at St. Bonaventure is coming to an end. About a month or two into college, I knew Bonaventure wasn’t my place. I tried to swallow this feeling and forget about it, but no matter how much I ignored it, it hung over my head. I’m content with my decision to leave now, but September me was terrified to come to this conclusion.
Coming to Bonaventure wasn’t a complete waste of time. I absolutely learned about myself, about my likes and dislikes, and I learned that my ultimate career goal has changed. I think when people ask me about it, they assume I’ll tell them that it was wasted time and money. But I’m honestly so glad that I did this.
I had never lived with a roommate before, so this was the first thing I learned. I learned that my roommate and I have 2 very different definitions of night owl. (Mine being 11 pm, hers being 2 am). And I also learned that you can have separation anxiety from someone you met on Facebook 4 months prior. I wasn’t expecting to grow so close to my roommate in such a short amount of time. I hope she always remembers the impact she had on me during my freshman year.
I also learned how to handle college assignments and learned study methods. I came to college with a 4.0 from high school, thinking that it would just come naturally to me. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. Turns out AP courses in high school aren’t even in the same realm as actual college classes. But regardless of this bump in the road, my grades still remained high after I learned my methods for studying.
I also learned that in college, you need to be comfortable doing things alone…a lot of the time. The first month, when people are still trying to find friends, is a very awkward time where you find yourself eating alone, going to events alone, and even going to the gym alone. It seemed like during all other parts of my life I was never truly alone, but in college, it’s something you need to accept.
Another major thing I learned about myself is that I didn’t want to be a physician’s assistant. I chose this career randomly because I knew I liked helping people and wanted to do something science-y, but I really never looked into the classes I’d have to take. There’s nothing to really prepare you for this awakening; you’re expected to choose a major with no real meaning behind it. After a lot of research, I finally landed on a major that fits my interests way better, and I can confidently say I’m excited to learn now.
The list of things I’ve discovered about myself could go on and on, but I’ll spare you. This school wasn’t a great fit for me, but I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunity to study away from home and gain independence.
Dear St. Bonaventure, you’ll always be a stepping stone in my college journey. The memories I’ve made on your campus will live rent-free in my head (and Snapchat memories) for the rest of my life. Thank you for the laughs, the tears, and the terrible Hickey Dining Hall food.
Sincerely, Aubrey.