Looking back on four years: seniors on staff offer advice

By: QC Editorial

Posted: 5/1/08

It is the last issue of the Quaker Campus, which marks a feat much greater than simply producing a newspaper every week for the last academic year. For many of us on staff, the completion of this issue not only marks the end of the school year, but also marks the end of our entire Whittier College career.

Yes, we are sad. Yes, we are anxious. But we are also a little wiser than we were when we first came to campus, and in the hope that you will gain something from this wisdom, allow us to share our past mistakes and small revelations with you.

"Keeping yourself emotionally stable is more important than finishing 100 percent of the readings."

- Kelly Muscolo

"Do something out of your comfort zone."

- Rebecca Deitch

"Nobody has all the answers. Embrace your confusion. You'll learn more."

- Lauren Camacho

"Never get lazy about going toward your dream. Or a dark room where you can hide from all the crazies."

- Melisa Miller

"Sometimes you just have to take your clothes off, and not put a chicken in a baggie."

- Elliott Burr

"Showing up is half the battle. The other half is caring. So show up and care."

- Jared Silverman

"The best things that will happen to you are the things you never could have expected. Be vigilant about remaining open. Have empathy. Feel everything."

- Branden Boyer-White

"Reach for the stars. Try to make things out of organic material. Watch movies sometimes. Keep things in perspective. Bug hunting is fun sometimes. Reading really can be pleasurable. Go in and talk to your professors outside of class. Try a new food every once in a while. Live on campus, and then live off campus. Know the grassy, sunny places to sit outside and look at the clouds. Make shapes out of the clouds in your imagination, and then write them down and look at it later. Go to the dentist. Vote. When you're feeling intelligent, read some of the dictionary and integrate the words into your vocabulary. Take a few classes completely outside of your discipline. Be "that kid." If you feel like it, join a society. It'll make them feel good, it'll make you feel good, and that's all good. Stretch always. Keep your sense of humor. Don't sneer at people if they wear mismatched socks. Use the stairs; elevators are mischevious. Move out of your basement. Wear sunscreen.If your co-worker needs you to take up a column in Opinions, do it."

- Justin Velasco