On a random day during junior year, I left one of my classes in Scripps Hall with a classmate I had never met before, but who was a senior in their final semester. We’d never spoken until that random day, but what they said to me has been present in each day of my senior year.
“The days will seem long, but the semesters are short.”
Upon arriving at school in August of 2022, I thought everyone around me had themselves figured out. The concept of time passing quickly didn’t scare them in the same way it scared me.
Of course, not everyone you come across in college has their lives figured out; a lot of the people we are surrounded by on campus are experiencing a lot of “firsts” themselves.
If you’re walking on Court Street, you may pass someone with a fresh coffee, possibly trying Donkey Coffee for the first time. If you’re on an escalator in Baker, someone in front of you is calling their mom to let her know they were invited to hang out with a new friend group.
For anyone experiencing a lot of firsts and feeling like life is moving too fast: you’re not too sensitive or too emotional to feel the weight of it all. Time moves quickly here, and it can be daunting to know you have so little time left.
I find it very refreshing to come across someone my own age who feels emotions in the same way I do: deeply and sometimes without reason. In a place where everyone can reinvent themselves, reinvent yourself to be more empathetic toward those who may be struggling with the concept of “firsts."
One of my firsts that quickly became a constant was walking into The Post newsroom. As a freshman, I walked in unsure of my future here, and as a senior, I’m walking out with many more friends and confidence in my own knowledge.
In my role as the opinion editor, I’ve felt compassionate about leading a section of intelligent, outstanding student journalists, where they have taught me more than they know.
To my fellow hosts our beloved podcast, “What Goes Unsaid,” Clara and Suz, it seems we impacted more people than we thought, and I can’t wait to listen back to our episodes and feel like I’m being teleported back to junior year with both of you.
This position granted me the opportunity to write editorial columns, providing me the space to express the problems of the world within a physical product, read by people all over Southeast Ohio.
I’ve grown to become passionate about reporting, specifically for opinion content that drives discussion and perspective. In a sector of journalism that is usually criticized because it erodes trust or blurs the line of objective reporting, I see it as the driving force for forming a central, deep argument toward a topic that changes the way people see the world.
Thank you to our sweet newsroom for housing the most impressive, entirely student-run and independent newspaper I’m so lucky to be a part of.
A constant over the past two years has been my beloved college house, where my six roommates and I have laughed and cried in every inch of it (excluding the scary basement). It could have been any house in Athens that held these memories, but what makes ours so special to me is the people inside.
To my six constants, whom I love and adore: Em, Claire, Lex, Jordy, Meg and Val – for someone who doesn’t have a sister, I find these relationships to feel like a sisterhood. I love the impulsivity we’ve dived into our senior year, and the way we could convince each other to go to the C.I. before the sentence was finished.
It’ll feel very weird not to be a door away from each of you, but I know we’ll do group FaceTime calls like we’re just away on winter break.
I’m beyond grateful for long-distance constants I get to text all the time, saying, “I miss you,” and “When can you visit me in Athens?” To Clip, Chlo and Eloise, it makes me so happy to know that geographical barriers won’t change our friendship, and that we really are only a text away.
To my family who have put up with my nonsense my whole life, but always have the time to listen to me as I try to understand the necessary parts of growing up. I’m so lucky to have you guys in my corner.
Time has always been a scary concept to me as I’ve aged. I’ve come back to thinking about how quickly years come and go, whereas when I was younger, the concept of time moved very slowly. However, I must say, I’m so excited to see how the concept of time changes as I get older and meet new people, new coworkers and navigate a place where my future can feel just as college did.
A quote that has stuck with me, and given me a new perspective on the concept of time and growing up, is by the incredible Ariana Grande. “I hope my smile lines get deeper and deeper, and I laugh more and more. And I just think aging … can be such a beautiful thing.”
Daphne Graeter is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Daphne know by emailing her at dg422421@ohio.edu.
