~Social Distancing~ Post 1

To Geneseo, my home away from home

It has been a really long time since I have posted, mostly due to a lack of time between school and all the other things happening in my life. Now I find myself with an abundant amount of time. Maybe I would have had this time anyways because technically it is spring break, but that would have been voluntary. Free time away from people is fun when it’s by choice. Free time away from people is not fun when you’re told that’s what you should be doing.

The past week has been rough, I can’t lie. Everything is so sudden. This is a tough time for everyone.

I knew leaving college was going to be really hard. I hated Geneseo when I first started, it was last on my list but out of chance (I guess? maybe luck?) it’s where I ended up. I have told this story many times. I did not want to be at the tour when we went- it was right after a very long all nighter at Empire Girls State. I did not want to be at accepted students day, but I’ll never forget the cinnamon roll from Sweet Arts on Main Street. I did not want to be at Freshman Orientation, where I cried on the green because Target was half an hour away. I did not want to fall in love with Geneseo. It was simply not in the plan to get attached.

A couple weeks ago I was interviewing candidates for the Vice President of Student and Campus Life at Geneseo and many of the candidates asked why the students chose Geneseo and asked the faculty and staff why they stayed. Answering these questions and listening to the others responses reminded me of all the things I love about Geneseo.

So much of it is the community.

There is something about the community at Geneseo and when you feel it, it draws you in and holds you there and it makes it hard to say goodbye. The only mentor I had before college was a Geneseo Alumni, and I have had so many mentors while at Geneseo. There is a kind of drive I see in so many Geneseo students and alumni to help and nurture our own to become better people and better leaders. There is this drive to do good in the world that is so specific to Geneseo, or at least I think it is.

So I’ve known since I made my decision to stay at Geneseo in my Sophomore year that it was going to be hard to say good bye. I just didn’t think I would have to say good bye so soon. I’ll miss the friendship tacos and Starbucks runs. I’ll miss screaming Dancing Queen at the top of my lungs on an elevated surface and ending the night with Piano Man. I’ll miss splitting a BEST and Monte Cricket with my friend and trying to do work in the coffee shop. I’ll miss so much, but what I’ll miss the most are the people who I wish I could give a better goodbye to. I’ll miss my professors that supported me in my absolute worst times. I’ll miss my sorority sisters and my family line. I’ll miss my friends who have been through it all with me in these last four years.

I am grieving the senior year I always wanted and wish I could still have, but I am hopeful still for the future and a day I can give Geneseo a proper goodbye.