In my final semester here at Clemson, I have found that the journey has become increasingly bittersweet. Every time I walk on campus, I try to look at something new: the names on the bell at Carillon Gardens, the crooked shutter on the Trustee House or the tree by Long Hall that turns orange before the rest.
I take out my earbuds to listen to the bells play and find myself staring out my classroom windows all the time. Something lost on so many people is the small moments in life that cause four years to pass in such a brief amount of time.
It is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of daily life. With finals, friend groups and just getting chores done, the simple act of taking a look around at the world around you is an easy thing to forget.
Clemson University is a truly beautiful place to have your college experience, and being surrounded by a gorgeous and engaging campus is something that sometimes gets taken for granted.
From the Dikes to Death Valley, there is so much to do in Clemson that can be forgotten in the overwhelming nature of college life. Too many times in my career here, I went to class and right back home, too tired to enjoy the campus or with too much work to justify a break. Take those breaks. With so many late-night basketball games and planetarium shows missed, I wish I could go back and drag myself to fill my college experience with the moments.
With fantastic sports, a scenic campus, dozens of guest speakers and shows a year and the hundreds of clubs that sprawl the community, Clemson is a place that has something for everyone. Taking advantage of the countless opportunities that are provided by this school is absolutely essential to making the most of the Clemson experience. Any era of a person’s life can be defined by the opportunities that they choose to pursue or not.
So, as advice to both the rising seniors or the freshmen in their first finals week: slow down. Life moves fast, and so many times, I wish I could go back and pause the moments I rushed through. Clemson is a place where you can jam-pack your day or relax easily. Take advantage of this time in your life where you can make mistakes and grow into the most prolific version of yourself. Your future will thank you for it.
Natalie Peck is a senior communication major from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Natalie can be reached at [email protected].
