Posted: 05/03/06

Checking the list
Some advice for remaining St. Michael’s students

Morgen Thiboult | executive editor
mthiboult@smcvt.edu

By the time you read this, my academic career at St. Michael’s College will officially be over.

No more tests, no more papers, no more journalism videos, Web sites, or ethical issues to debate.

The culmination of my four years as a Purple Knight rests in my Moment. Strange, but seemingly fitting.

For the past two semesters, I have opened my heart and written about a lot of personal issues and issues that I think really matter to society, but especially this campus. I’ve written about the troops overseas, the date rape drug, student elections, my relationship, P-Day, and alcohol abuse on campus.

This week I have no shocking story to lure you in and I don’t have a comment about the current state of the world or the college. I do, however, want to share some advice to those remaining at One Winooski Park for another year or more:

• Get involved. There’s no way around it—what you do is who you are. Academics are important, but five or 10 years from now, no one will care how you did in Calculus II or American Lit. Sharing stories about planning a talent show or a trip to a museum will be much more interesting. Clubs are so easy to get involved with and they’re worth it. Most clubs on this campus are among the hardest working groups of students and each club wants to make a change or keep students interested.
• Stay informed. Although the height of my Student Association (S.A.) experience rests in my position as Echo representative, I can honestly say that I understand the S.A. system and I know what’s going on around campus. Sure, some meetings are dry as hell and drag for hours, but for every snoozer there have been at least three or four engaging discussions or hilarious PowerPoint presentations.
• Play hard. Staying active is important and fun, so why not try participating in some intramurals? Intramural sports are exceptional on this campus and there are always plenty of them happening to get involved with. There’s no denying that intramural softball is the best part of the weekends. Our varsity athletes work as hard as anyone but often receive little or no recognition. Teams with fan support tend to perform better so support them as individuals score their 82nd run or shoot their 1,000th point.
• Stay motivated. It doesn’t matter who or what motivates you, but something has to inspire you. Maybe it’s your little brother or your mother, but everyone has a motivator. There is always a reason behind working so hard and staying on track. If you don’t have one, think about it or find one, they’re usually not hard to recognize. And when you realize who your motivator is, thank him or her.
• Free is phenomenal. Never again will you have a plethora of free or dirt cheap activities at your fingertips. Cheer on the sports teams, attend a play or music production, listen to a lecture, and watch a film that makes you stop and think. Student clubs and the college provide events nearly every day. Attending these events will teach you about things you didn’t know or things you’ve been turning a blind eye toward.
• Make time for laughter. Without our friends we would all be different people. Our college friends, we are told, are the ones who will forever be with us as lifetime companions. If you’re only seeing some of your friends once or twice a month, it’s time to make time for them. And if you don’t see your housemates at least once a day, try a little harder. I had to learn the hard way that not making time for them makes a person miserable.
• Stay warm and dry. My last two pieces of advice are to buy an umbrella and a pair of Long Johns. No one likes to be sitting in class soaking wet. No one. And feeling your leg hair grow out of your goose bumps is just odd and remarkably uncomfortable. Invest in an umbrella; you’ll thank me later when your shoes are the only things that are wet. As far as the Long Johns—everyone gets a smile out of feeling like Spiderman for a little while. Just remember that Mother Nature tends to play some nasty tricks when it comes to dry, warm weather.

There’s no denying that the cost of the college experience is growing across the United States and it’s beginning to become a burden for many students, even those in our community. I’m honestly not sure if I could have afforded another year in Colchester, but for those of you who are taking the $35,000 bullet, make the most of it and take advantage of an excellent academic education as well as the opportunity for memorable experiences, productions, lectures, and games.

A special thanks to the readers of my column, and readers of The Echo in general, for the past year. Reading means you are interested or want to stay informed, and I appreciate either and both. Thanks to every dean, professor, boyfriend, and friend who has made a difference in my life and inspired me to keep going.
I wish Ryan Dulude, Jessie Palatucci, Amanda Gallagher, and Kate Power the best of luck as they lead the next bunch of eager reporters next year.
Lastly, thanks to all the hard work from this semester's staff. You all set the standard high for the future of the publication and I was especially proud to work with each of you as you pursued tough stories and sought the truth. It was a privilege to get to know you all.