By Michaella Lesieur, Staff Writer
We are just about a week shy of ending another semester, another year sealed with memories at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
The class of 2018 will be walking across the stage on Saturday May 12, 2018 at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA. After years of hard work their five seconds of fame, will be owned and a new chapter will begin. For some this is not the end of their education, as they move on to graduate school. Or for some a new job awaits. A fresh start for new possibilities.
UMass Dartmouth’s undergraduates will be starting a new chapter as well as they complete another year. For some next year they will be graduating or changing their major. Whatever the scenario may be it is another chapter in their life.
For high school seniors they will be experiencing college for the first time. Finally, becoming a Corsair as the community welcomes them into our family. As you can see everyone has a book and each stage in life comes with a chapter to fill.
Starting new chapters in your journey through life is exciting, you never know what it has in store. Although, this can be petrifying it is all part of the plan. There is a reasoning behind everything and these are the years for us to explore.
The sky is the limit and sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith…give it a chance. You have to follow your dreams and never say never. Their will be obstacles; however, the rewards at the end will greatly outweigh the maze towards getting there.
You might have to work a little bit harder and go through a few “no’s” before you get that “yes,” but when you do hold on to that. Once you find your passion it is the most wonderful feeling in the world. Your passions are what propel you forward. As I said in my video for the “Because Bristol,” campaign for Bristol Community College, “Once you find your passions go get them.” If you are doing something you love, it will not feel like a chore.
Do what makes you feel like you live on the top of the world, you are as much as you put into yourself. Allow yourself to explore and excel in anything that you peruse. Whether you are an undergraduate, graduate, employee and so on remember these words when you begin a new chapter. You might not know the answer right away and that’s okay, because eventually you will. You just have to live in the moment and see where each day gets you. Remember to take the time to celebrate in between these new chapters because you have come so far.
Seniors…we have had so many momentous moments here at UMass Dartmouth and the opportunities that we have lived and learned are amazing. I am so excited to see where life after graduation takes us. I know for me I will enjoy every second of exploring graduate school and going for yet another degree in a field that I love. Always remember that your family and friends are here with you every step of the way. For me my mom has been my biggest role model and that one person can really make a difference.
Good luck to everyone starting new chapters in their lives and to the graduating class of 2018, congratulations, we did it!
Photo Courtesy: UMass Dartmouth