Well, here it is, my first and last column for the Pacer. Now I know you are thinking, “Who cares?” Not many people, but it’s a tradition for graduating Pacer staff members to write a farewell column, and who am I to mess with tradition?

As many prepare to graduate and try to make it in the workaday world and others prepare to trudge back here in the fall, I’m sure that there are questions going through your mind, like “Will I ever figure out my place in the world?” If you’re lucky. Or “Am I going to graduate a virgin?” Probably. Or “How long is this chick going to ramble?” Hopefully not for long.

A popular feature of most goodbye columns is the “shout-outs,” which is something that no one but the writer and the person mentioned understands.

I’m not going to attempt to name all of the people who have touched and changed my life since I started here four years ago. Not only would I probably leave some important people out, but I wouldn’t have the space to adequately explain the impact they’ve had on my life.

Another standard aspect of these columns is the dispensing of advice. I’ve decided that this is something I can try to do. But I promise to keep it short and sweet.

Here it is: Get involved! Join clubs, get out and meet people. Don’t be someone who spends all of their time in their dorm room or in class thinking about how fast they can get back to their dorm.

Meet people and make friends. This is probably one of the only times in your life where you will have access to such a diversified group of people who are also out there looking for someone to talk to.

Take advantage of this and meet all of the people you pass on your way to class every day.

In college, you experience so many new things. For some of you, this included your first taste of alcohol, which may have been immediately been followed by your first sexual encounter. You may have met people who are completely different than you.

I hope that you have learned things in your classes you never knew before. And you’ve made friends who will be there for you for the rest of your life.

I hope that you take the time now to think and appreciate all of these experiences and what you’ve learned from them. Let these experiences change your life for the better.

Thank you if you’ve stuck with me for this far. And if you haven’t, then here would be a perfect chance for me to make fun of you because you would never know it. But I won’t because what would be the point, you’re not reading this anymore.

Like I said earlier, there are way too many people to mention who have made my college experience so much fun. And I will never forget you guys. But there are a few people who deserve a personal thanks.

To the greatest family ever: you guys have stuck by me through the good and the bad. And I know that I never could have made it this far without you. Thank you so much for the unconditional love and support that you guys have given me. I love you so much.

To the best friend: even though we only became friends because I thought you were depressed, I wouldn’t change our friendship for the world. Thank you for being the same-age sister that I never had…and never knew I needed.

To everyone at Interfaith: thanks for making such a big impact on three and half years of my college career and for giving me such a great place to live. Jeannie, you are wonderful and kind. Thanks for being so great at administrating and assisting.

To my Pacer buddies: even though it hasn’t always be pretty, you guys made it a very positive experience.

To the Communications Department: you guys are great. I’m proud to have been a part of such a wonderful department.

To Tomi McP: thank you so much for all that you have taught me. I know that I don’t always show it, but you have taught me so much. Hopefully someday I will be able to put it to good use. Thanks for spending so much time with us when I know that you would rather be with your family.

To Greg, Candace and Tan-tra`: what can I say about the greatest group of buddies a girl could ever ask for? Thanks for being such wonderful friends…in Martin and in Troy. Viva Nashvegas!

And no, those weren’t shout-outs.

Emily Vick is a graduating senior Communications major from White House. Emily was this year’s Features Editor, Distribution Manager and Ads Repreesenative. Emily was an Associate News Editor last year.