2008 Woodie Awards
LARSON: Goal for graduates: A life of service
By Mark Larson
I've been doing a lot of thinking these past few weeks of school and not necessarily because of final papers or preparing for finals. No, as graduation nears for my fellow seniors and me, I've been reflecting a lot on my past four years here at Marquette and what they've meant to me.
Of course, like most everyone else, the people I've met and the times we've had will no doubt stand out most in my mind. The biggest blessing in disguise came my freshman year when I got stuck in O'Donnell Hall. The last thing I had wanted when coming to college was to be in an all-male dorm, yet I couldn't have had a better time or met better people.
The stupid and ridiculous things that went down there could only happen with freshmen guys in the absence of girls. The friends I made there I've kept ever since and will until the day I die. In the four years since, we've had plenty of great times: Walking the Kilbourn circuit, going to and eventually throwing parties, going to basketball games and Water Street afterward — these are all great memories I'll cherish forever.
I could hardly talk about college without mentioning my education as well. Though I could hardly say I remember everything I've learned in every class I've taken, I can say that I have received a top-notch education for the bargain-basement price of roughly only $120,000. I've had many great professors like Drs. Meissner, Knox and Armstrong and, unfortunately, a few bad ones as well.
Thankfully, the good ones who inspired me far outweighed any boredom or disinterest the bad ones inflicted. Upon graduation I will have a powerful degree that will help me in the future with getting into my career of choice.
What most sticks out in my mind though, is the mindset that I have developed here at Marquette and will bring with me into the world. While I'm not the kind of person to go out and try to feed the homeless or end poverty, I can certainly appreciate how Marquette tries to inspire students to dedicate themselves through service to others.
Of course, like most everyone else, the people I've met and the times we've had will no doubt stand out most in my mind. The biggest blessing in disguise came my freshman year when I got stuck in O'Donnell Hall. The last thing I had wanted when coming to college was to be in an all-male dorm, yet I couldn't have had a better time or met better people.
The stupid and ridiculous things that went down there could only happen with freshmen guys in the absence of girls. The friends I made there I've kept ever since and will until the day I die. In the four years since, we've had plenty of great times: Walking the Kilbourn circuit, going to and eventually throwing parties, going to basketball games and Water Street afterward — these are all great memories I'll cherish forever.
I could hardly talk about college without mentioning my education as well. Though I could hardly say I remember everything I've learned in every class I've taken, I can say that I have received a top-notch education for the bargain-basement price of roughly only $120,000. I've had many great professors like Drs. Meissner, Knox and Armstrong and, unfortunately, a few bad ones as well.
Thankfully, the good ones who inspired me far outweighed any boredom or disinterest the bad ones inflicted. Upon graduation I will have a powerful degree that will help me in the future with getting into my career of choice.
What most sticks out in my mind though, is the mindset that I have developed here at Marquette and will bring with me into the world. While I'm not the kind of person to go out and try to feed the homeless or end poverty, I can certainly appreciate how Marquette tries to inspire students to dedicate themselves through service to others.
Published: 4/29/08 Section: Viewpoints
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