Since the end of the semester is coming to a close, it is once again time to pack up everything from my dorm room and take it home.

This will be my third time packing up a dorm room, and it always amazes me how much I have accumulated.

As I am sitting in my room, I cannot help but remember my time at Barton, all of the lessons I have learned and all of the friends I have made.

Perhaps one of my most challenging roles at Barton was that of editor in chief of our campus paper, The Collegiate. Some issues, when I was running around trying to find enough articles to fill up the paper, or chasing people down because they did not turn in their stories on time, I began to question why I even wanted to be the editor in the first place.

In all seriousness, although it was a lot of stress and work, I will always consider it an honor to have worked on The Collegiate. I have learned great life lessons about working with people, deadlines and all I could ever want to know about A.P. style.

I also made life long friends at The Collegiate.

Our advisor, Mr. Stewart, was a great advisor.

Not only did he help with the paper, but he also helped me when I was confused about graduate school.

He is always willing to lend a listening ear to all of his students, and I know we are all grateful to him for that.

While working on the paper, I also met two of my very best friends, Marcos and Krystal. Marcos was the graphic designer for the paper. I jokingly told Mr. Stewart at the end of last year that if Marcos did not come back to help this year, I was going to run away.

Although I said this jokingly, I was dead serious. I probably would have run away.

Graphic design is definitely not my favorite part of being on the newspaper staff. I would much rather edit and read stories.

But, with Marcos’ help, the paper got done on time, every issue.

Krystal, who was the editor in chief of the paper last year, is like my big sister.

She was always willing to offer me advice about the paper and anything else I needed help on.

Even though she graduated last year, more than once she came to help me with the paper this year because I was stressed.

The other people I consider my very best friends – Mary Beth, Meredith, Rebecca, Meg and Victoria – I became friends with while I was at Barton.

I feel blessed to have made such amazing friends, and I know we will all stay in touch for the rest of our lives.

Some days it just felt as though my graduation would never get here.

But it did.

In all honesty, the time passed by pretty quickly.

Over the years I have been in college, I have learned several lessons about life, and school.

Well, as Mr. Stewart says, this is free advice.

You don’t have to pay me for it.

First of all, time does pass by quickly.

So although stress and school may get you down, don’t forget to relax and enjoy your life as well.

Secondly, always remember to take school seriously.

Open those books and study.

Also remember to make friends at college and to take time to hang out with them.

Sometimes just taking a break and watching a movie with some friends can help ease the pressure and stress school puts on you.

Volunteer work and internships look amazing on resumes.

Take advantage of job opportunities, and definitely try to get an internship in your major.

The experience will help prepare you for the job force and is a good way to see if that job is really the right one for you.

Also, always remember to follow your dreams.

As Dr. Seuss once said, &uot;You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

You’re on your own.

And you know what you know.

You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.&uot;

Perhaps the most important piece of advice is to always have confidence in yourself and your abilities.

In life, there will be people who will try to knock you down and tell you that you cannot make it.

Don’t listen to them. You can make it, and you will make it. As Robert Collier said, &uot;Your chance of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself.&uot;