As the school year comes to a close, students have a perfect opportunity to reminisce and reflect on their greatest moments of triumph and the lessons they have learned. For graduating seniors, however, blooming tulips and finals week tend to usher in a certain feeling of bittersweet-ness. I spoke to three graduating seniors to discuss what they consider to be their fondest memories and takeaways through their matriculation at their dear AU and some of the most valuable experiences they’ve gained to help them prepare for life after graduation.
Chris Ngugi (senior, psychology and Spanish) shared that his post-grad plans include joining the Peace Corps as a coordinator for Youth in Development in Guatemala. In this role, Chris hopes to work alongside the current education services to address risk factors among Guatemalan youth. When asked what some of the most valuable life lessons he had learned during his time at Andrews were, Chris touched on how he has learned to be resilient.
“One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned includes the necessity to be persistent when you care about something,” he said. “… There are sometimes barriers to doing certain things that are very important, but it doesn’t mean those things aren't worth doing.”
Additionally, Chris touched on how his time spent in Argentina through Adventist Colleges Abroad (ACA) was the highlight of his college years: “It was truly an experience where I was able to connect with people I never would’ve encountered if it wasn't for ACA.”
It is no secret that one of the most outstanding attributes Andrews University has to offer its students is the opportunity to expand their horizons beyond the main campus. Reagan McCain (senior, history and Spanish) plans to do this after graduation during her gap year as an assistant English teacher in Spain. During her interview, Reagan expressed that one of the most valuable life lessons she learned during her time as a student at Andrews was learning to manage her time and stress levels when put under copious pressure.
“I think one of the most valuable lessons I learned is that worrying about a problem doesn’t make it go away,” she said. “… I realized that was just adding an extra layer of stress to the work. So instead of letting myself feel stuck thinking about doing the thing, I’ve learned to just actually do the thing.”
Lastly, I had a conversation with Michelle Rivera (senior, political science and Spanish) about what she enjoyed most about her time at Andrews.
“I learned that community is very important” she said. “Andrews has a strong sense of community that made me feel like I belonged on this campus. Without this community, I do not think I would have made it this far.”
Rivera also noted what changes she hopes will take place at the University in the years to come.
“One of the improvements I would suggest is the inclusion of transfer students,” she said. “It’s hard transferring to a new university, so [I would like to see] an easier transfer program to include students.”
As we say goodbye to this school year, we send well wishes and congratulations to all 2025 graduates. As they take the stage and move on to higher heights, we trust that through all the lessons and experiences that have taken place during their time at Andrews, they are fully equipped to go out and be real-world changers.
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.