Three weeks are all that is left until the semester comes to a close, and the graduating class moves onto bigger and better opportunities. As less than a month remains, students waiting in the long lines of the Commencement Fair have begun reflecting on their college experience, from missed opportunities to advice they would give to the new batch of incoming freshmen.
Kayden Bumpus, a transfer student graduating with a communications degree, expresses to new students to be themself and not to be afraid to talk to people, as she regrets not signing up for clubs and other social activities around campus.
“I definitely didn’t do any clubs or anything,” Bumpus said. “I think I was still too shy for that and everything. And just didn’t want to step out and do that and really know what I was interested in still, and doing the Honors College was a lot, so it was hard, but I think I just missed out more on the club aspect.”
Recruited from high school, Jonas Cantrell and Dane Herrick are student athletes as part of OU’s Athletic Swimming & Diving Team. Although they had been a part of the team throughout their entire college experience, they wish they had the chance to be involved with the team even more.
“Spend time with your team,” Cantrell said. “I think with transferring and a lot of stuff, it’s like you don’t really get to know your teammates as well as you want to, so get to know them. You’ll stay together a bit longer.”
While students normally end up setting aside time to have to themselves, Herrick suggests that students should set aside time to socialize.
“Set time aside to be social,” Herrick said. “Being held up in your room just makes for a terrible experience.”
Eli Sepulveda, graduating with a Computer Science degree, feels that his missed opportunities did not come from his social life around campus, but through the classes he wished he took during his undergraduate years.
“There are definitely certain classes I wish I would have taken instead of classes that I did end up taking,” Sepulveda said. “If I had a chance to redo my degree, I would definitely ensure all of these classes are classes that I know that I want to be taking and know that I’ll learn something in.”
Susanne Denner, graduating with a master’s degree in information technology management, advises new OU students to get connected with the school’s rich community.
“Get connected,” Denner said. “I feel like that’s the biggest thing, trying to meet as many people as possible, and honestly just using the time while you have it. Time flies when you’re having fun, especially when there’s a lot of things that are always going on around campus.”
Whether our soon-to-be graduates feel regrets over missed college opportunities or feel they made all the right moves, they will be journeying beyond OU in less than a month. As classes come to a close, it is important to make the most out of the college experience regardless of how much time you have left, whether that is a couple years, or just a few weeks.
