“The years teach much the days never know.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Andrews University is full of diverse perspectives, opinions, and, most importantly, invaluable experiences. Remembering that experience and learning from those who have come before can yield wisdom that could propel you not only into this semester but also the new year. As a student, you’ll recognize the vast amount of uncertainties that arise from being a university student. We all wish we could have learned certain life lessons earlier or were warned before sprinting down the path toward our personal pitfalls. To speed up this learning process, I interviewed graduating seniors and asked them what their goals were for this semester and what main piece of advice they have for other students.
“My goal for the semester is to finish all my courses strong, especially because I am taking upper division classes for my major. Since these classes are in depth and catered to my major, I am very excited to learn and do well! My advice for any underclassmen would be to see this semester as an opportunity. Don’t see it as, “Ugh, I have to get it done” but instead, think of it as, “Wow, this is the only spring semester of 2024 that I’m going to get. I want to make it as memorable and rewarding as I can.”
Hannie Casamayor (senior, biology)
“Some goals I have for this semester are to finish with good grades and work on my classes for vet school. I also am working to make my research project the best it can be. My advice would be to get out of your comfort zone and try new things. People should do things for the “plot” more! It's good to be responsible but it's also good to take risks as well. So be responsible but don’t be afraid to take risks! Make good decisions and form good habits, because if you don’t, it’ll be much more difficult for you later on.”
Carolina Smith (senior, animal science)
“My goal for this semester is to really stay ahead and on top of all my work. This is always a goal for me. My advice is to plan out what to do each day, so it doesn’t pile up and up till the day before the test. I would also say to talk to your professors. I didn’t know how to do this in the past and I wish I had.”
Joya Dean (senior, biochemistry)
“My goal for this semester is to fully equip myself to become a pastor, especially because I was just recently accepted to be a pastor in SandPoint, Idaho. A lot of my courses will be extremely useful in this area such as Youth Ministries. I want to be fully prepared. My advice for students would be to find something you enjoy to help manage the stress. It could be reading, it could be enjoying music, anything. Try to find a balance between studying and relaxing.”
Benjamin High (senior, theology)
“My goal for the semester is, one, to not graduate broke! I don’t want to graduate with absolutely no money. Secondly, I want to really network and gain benefits in business and build my credit. What I would say to incoming students is that you are going to be a completely different person at the end of four years. I can barely recognize myself back when I was eighteen. You will change a lot. Four years feels like a lot, but time speeds up as you get older. It will go by very fast but it’ll feel like an eternity at the same time! My advice would be to focus on learning outside of school. School will teach you a lot, but there is still so much that you will need to learn outside of school. You need to know how loans work, about insurance credit cards, how to build your credit, etc. For example, I am currently trying to get a car and I have to deal with loans and insurance… it’s a real circus show!”
Chris Williams (senior, business administration)
“A lot of my goals are definitely wrapped up in my senior honors thesis. A huge academic goal of mine as an anthropology major is to become much more familiar with the process of ethnography. Ethnography is a research method that I envision will be very integral in the future of collective problem solving. Beyond academia, a personal goal of mine relates to my journey in dealing with ADHD. Since my diagnosis during my sophomore year of college, I’ve been learning how to work with my brain, rather than against my brain, especially as I learn what it means to be a scholar with ADHD, and to use my neurodivergence as an opportunity instead of seeing it as a hindrance. My advice for other students would be to move out of Lamson as soon as possible – do this for your health! Also, look for connections! Allow yourself to be creative and take your curiosity and creativity seriously. Creativity as a scholar is a super important thing, it can help us make connections someone else hasn’t thought of or to do something in a new way.”
Lily Burke (senior, anthropology, English, and Spanish)
“This semester, my main goal is to pass the HESI exit exam so I can successfully graduate from the nursing program here at Andrews. Additionally, I would like to make as many memories as I can before I graduate. I want to find a way to manage my study time with my social life so that this semester is a very productive, but memorable one. The best advice I could give to other students as a graduating senior is to keep yourself organized. If you do not have one already, get a planner to organize your assignments and study periods so that you can keep yourself on track throughout the week.”
Jona Alegria (senior, nursing)
“My goals for the semester are to finish out strong and also make time to do fun things and be with friends. My advice to others is to put God first in everything you do and continually ask Him for guidance. Secondly, my advice would be to plan ahead and work on things a little bit at a time rather than waiting until the last minute. It will save you a lot of stress!”
Carly Weems (senior, animal science)
“As a graduating senior, one of my goals for this semester is to be intentional about how I spend my time. I think it’s important to balance your studying with other activities such as exercise, social time, or self-care. For new students, I would recommend getting involved on campus. Your undergraduate years will be more fulfilling as you participate in new experiences like intramurals, student clubs, or volunteer opportunities.”
Ariana Coast-Dice (senior, biology and animal science)
“For my last semester, I want to interact more with my classmates and really experience all the things that will happen in the spring. I think that sometimes you get so focused on classes that you forget to experience things around you. Some advice that I want to give is that it is okay to grow. Being away from your family you tend to want to keep with the same routine, but doing new things and being open to new people and experiences is what helps you grow. It can be very uncomfortable at times, but it always works in your favor.”
Skyler Campbell (senior, graphic design)
“Honestly, one of my goals is to do the monkey bars back and forth at the gym and eventually do a handstand! I also want to take advantage of Michigan before I leave, like going skiing, tubing (checked that one off!), and maybe do a polar plunge in Lake Michigan (I don’t know about that one actually). What I would say to those who are also graduating would be that we need to maintain strength for a perfect last semester academically, socially, mentally, physically, etc. I’m trying to teach myself to take out time for all of these things, and I think it’ll help clear our minds as we prepare for the future.”
Brandon Alvarez (senior, business and biochemistry)
“My goals for the last semester are to finish strong and to continue making preparations for continuing my education. I also hope to enjoy the rest of the time I have at Andrews with friends. Some advice I would give to other students would be to take your education seriously. If you need extra help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Take the time to develop your interests and self-discover. It is important to have outlets, don’t let school be the only thing you put work and care into.”
Lydia Sarpong (senior, speech-language pathology)
“My goals are to keep pushing on with the finish line in sight now and try to finish off strong despite the tiredness and dwindling motivation. My advice is to be proactive and not afraid to ask for help. Find a balance between school and personal life, making sure to not neglect one or the other to maximize your experience.”
Emily Atencio (senior, biochemistry)
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.