I learned a lot of things in college - here is one thing I learned afterwards
As many of you may know, Vanderbilt beat #1 team Alabama on Saturday.
For all of my friends and I, a moment that is now a "where were you when..." moment.
I was in my DC apartment with my roommate (who also went to Vandy). We did our makeup in the living room while watching the game - knowing very well that the second half would likely go the way we all expected. Needless to say, we missed our dinner reservation and had to redo our makeup from tears of pure joy.
The win brought me many emotions - envy of those who experienced it first hand and nostalgia for weekly Sunday brunch with some of my friends on the team. But more than anything else it brought me pride like I have never experienced before.
When I graduated from Vanderbilt I felt like I got it all - I had the academic experience I wanted, I was in the perfect city, and I met lifelong friends. But it seemed like when I left Vanderbilt those would all become distant memories of the past.
All of a sudden, in the matter of a minutes, it hit me that those 4 years would never and could never leave me.
Because my home went from being my house in Long Island, to being my college. From my old dorm rooms, my sorority house, and my favorite lunch spot, to the desk in the library where I would go to study.
And so back to my pride. I was proud of the team. I was proud of of my school. I was proud of a lot of things...but mostly I was proud to call Vanderbilt my home.
So the message of my story:
#1 - Your college experience doesn’t end when you graduate; it’s four years of growth and transformation that last a lifetime. Those late nights, those friendships, those milestones - they all become part of who you are. Even after you leave, they stay with you, shaping the way you see the world and reminding you of the community you’ll always belong to.
#2 - Stay connected. Your college journey may take place over four years, but the connections and experiences you create will last a lifetime. You’ll carry them with you wherever you go...whether it’s the pride in your school, the bonds with your friends, or even those moments that remind you where home really is.
Your college isn’t just a chapter; it’s part of the story that shapes who you are and who you’ll become.
So, take this as motivation to keep striving for the best college experience you can because it’s not just about what happens while you’re there, it’s about how it stays with you long after.
Best of luck and Go 'Dores,
Melina Kazanas
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