These past four years have been one wild ride. Class of 2021, it still boggles my mind. Four years ago, if I were to tell myself I’d be graduating college coming off the best four semesters of my entire collegiate career, I would have laughed. College for me was an extremely important four years in my life — they changed who I am, and I will always be thankful for that.
Coming out of high school in Delco, I had a whole different vision of who I wanted to be. I hoped to try to be a graphic designer, but that was turned on its head after my first two semesters here at West Chester University back in 2017–2018. I then took a few communication classes, which really brought my eye on what I love to do now, and that’s to write. Ever since I became a communications major, it has fundamentally changed my life. The experiences and friendships that I have gained from being in the major and the journalism minor are some that I will have for the rest of my life, whether it be friendships or just memories that I’ve made along the way.
As a member of The Quad and Assistant Sports Editor for the past few years, I’ve also gained valuable experience in both the journalism field and as an actual reporter. Thanks to being a part of The Quad, I gained experience and knowledge about being a journalist, which ultimately helped me want to become a sports writer. Without that, who knows where I’d be these days.
Nonetheless, I feel like the most important thing that I gained out of being a student here these past four years was a sense of community — a second home. As an only child, it was hard to really adapt to being at college life with someone always around, but some of the roommates I had are some of my best friends to this day, and hopefully for the rest of my life. College is hard for all of us when we first leave our hometowns and high schools. Whether it’s losing and missing friends you’ve seen throughout your childhood, or just not being used to being on your own and away from home, we’ve all been through it.
However, we all didn’t predict that a global pandemic would come, and it shook our world. Online courses were grueling, but I got through them, as we all have. COVID-19, especially in my final years here at West Chester, has shown me that I needed to cherish the experiences I’ve had, as I’ve not been back to campus fully since last March. This was certainly not the way I, or any other of my fellow graduates, envisioned their final years here, but I did the best I could.
Thanks to coming here to West Chester University, I have learned so much about who I am as a person and have become someone ready to get out into the workforce. As a freshman, I knew nothing about what I was going to do in life, but now as a senior and about to make this place my alma mater, I look back at everything I did and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. I hit a rocky start in the beginning, but ultimately, I found my way forward and that’s what got me here today. To all freshmen and those who will come after, do not give up if you do not find a path right away. You will find your way, just as myself and many of my fellow classmates did in order to reach this point. I am, and forever will be, proud to say that I am a member of the Class of 2021 and a proud Golden Ram for life.
Jeff Babcock is fourth-year student majoring in communications and minoring in journalism. Jb884128@wcupa.edu