By Molly Smith
MARISSA ROTOLO / UP Blog Director
OXFORD, Ohio — It’s late afternoon on a Sunday, and I’m on the front porch of my senior-year house, exhausted from another classic Miami University weekend. My roommates are scattered around, each caught up in their own Sunday rituals: one is in the kitchen making her signature sauce, another in the living room watching Gilmore Girls, and another at the dining room table finishing homework.
As the quiet sets in, I’m filled with the bittersweet feeling that time in this town is fleeting. These moments—sharing late-night Insomnia Cookie orders, taking spontaneous trips to the horse farm down the road, and enjoying peaceful afternoons at home—will soon be cherished memories.
I’ve noticed we’ve already turned into what we once feared: seniors offering freshmen unsolicited advice about how fast four years go by. Our right of passage now includes urging newcomers to savor every moment, even as we reflect on how quickly our own time has passed.
As I think back on my freshman year, there were moments of uncertainty. I wondered, “Who am I? Will I make friends? Will I succeed here?” The answer, I realize now, was to embrace it all—the laughter, the challenges, the friendships, and the insecurities that come with constant change. The letdowns and heartbreaks were all stepping stones, guiding me along my journey.
You’ll make friends who feel like family, people who would do anything for you. Together, you’ll create phrases and routines unique to your time here. Phrases like, “It’s always something,” and “For one night and one night only,” become mantras, while a Sunday evening routine with coffee and cinnamon rolls becomes a weekly comfort.
So, to incoming students: soak in each moment, embrace the journey, and remember, no Friday 8:30 classes. It’s truly never worth it.
HALEY FARIS / Miami University Senior
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