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SBU | Life > Experiences

Something Has Changed (Within Me)

Alexis Serio Student Contributor, St. Bonaventure University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SBU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

On the day I am writing this, I am sitting in my childhood home, recollecting about visiting my high school. I went home for a brief trip just to watch my high school’s production of “Anastasia”. 

Last year, when I went home for their show of “Footloose” and it was an experience full of tears. In that time alone, between high school graduation and April of my freshman year, I had grown so much. I was a more confident version of myself, as well as someone who had recently gained two new piercings, something that would’ve never been attached to me as someone who was considered a “goody goody”. 

This year, coming home was a more toned down experience. While I have a new piercing and a tattoo this year, neither caused a discussion. 

I had the ability to see some of my favorite underclassmen perform in the opening night of their final show. I got to hug a friend who is now a freshman in high school and tell her mom how I’m thriving. 

It’s a weird experience to feel so detached from the place you grew up in. I spent kindergarten through my senior year of high school at the same school, and while it meant I only knew a handful of people, it also meant I grew attached to nearly everyone in the district. 

As always, I’m incredibly proud of who I am becoming, but this experience further proved this. I felt grateful to share how much I adore my professors and how I belong in every space I enter. I could feel myself wanting to be my shy and reserved younger version, but I pushed against it and confidentially shared my passions. 

It’s weird to be on the other side of the musical show experience. Since I acted from sixth grade through senior year, I always considered myself to be a theatre kid. I’m not going to lie, I don’t miss the stress of prepping for a show, but I do miss the late nights of rehearsal and sitting on the stage on a Saturday morning while we did a 9-5 rehearsal combined with a pizza party midway through. 

I’ve become someone who openly shares my love. I hugged numerous people and told each of them that they know how to reach me if they ever need anything. I’m in a big sister kind of role now, and I truly love it. 

I ultimately made an impact on them, and while that’s important, they made a lasting impact on me and as I grow and change, they are still a part of who I am. 

Something is not the same and it’s quite a beautiful thing!

Alexis Serio

SBU '27

Alexis Serio is one of the editing chairs for the St. Bonaventure University chapter of Her Campus. She has been a contributor since fall 2023 and an editor since fall 2024. She loves the variety of articles and creative ideas each person shares!

Alexis is a senior Individualized Studies in Faith and Social Justice and Spanish double major. Outside of Her Campus, Alexis works for Mt. Irenaeus as a communications intern and SBU's Franciscan Center for Social Concern as a social media intern. You can also find her working for the Franciscan Action Network’s on-campus program. She also works for the Student Success Center as a peer coach. Alexis also keeps herself busy as the social media coordinator for Spectrum!

Alexis works to make everyone feel like they belong and she loves meeting new people! She loves to read and will always make time to chat about gender!