1. “Hi My Name Is…”
When I was dropped off at the college campus, my father kept telling me over and over how my superpower was the phrase “Hi. My name is Emily.” Much like every kid does to their parents when they receive advice, I rolled my eyes in my mind and moved on with the day of orientation.
I remember sitting in my dorm that first night. The window in my room had a perfect view of one of the many parking lots on campus. I remember sitting in my dorm bed, all alone, hearing a group of people talking, laughing, and playing a game in the parking lot. At that moment, I told myself I would have to seek people out if I wanted to make friends.
The next day, I decided to explore my freshman dorm.
I went up to the second floor, passed multiple rooms, and noticed a door open. When I started to pass the room, I made eye contact with one of the students. I knew then that I had two options: one was to keep walking and pretend it didn’t happen, or use my superpower and say hello. I chose option two and looking back on it now, I am incredibly grateful I did.
I became friends with these two students and now they are my roommates. One I consider my best friend. We have survived one fight, many study sessions, some mental breakdowns and tons of movie nights. My college experience would have not been the same without her.
There are no requirements for others to accomplish this. No capes, no flying, and no spandex. Just four words that could change your life, much like they changed mine.
2. Take Courses that Interest You
Before I came to Nazareth, I had no idea what I wanted my future career to be and even as a senior, I still don’t have a finalized plan. All I knew was that I didn’t want to be an undecided major. That choice led me to become a business management major as I knew it would give me lots of options in the future.
I remember not enjoying my intro to communications class because it made me accomplish things that were outside my comfort zone. I had to engage in class and talk to the other students. This was something that I struggled with during my freshman year when I took th class. However, I’m glad that I pushed past this feeling as it opened up my options for other communications classes — all outside my major — in future semesters.
Last semester, I realized that I had enough communication classes that I could declare the minor if I took just two more classes. I’m glad that I found classes outside my major to take as electives.
3. Find Ways to Make Your Time Fun
Over the years, I have learned how demanding classes can be. While sometimes you have no assignments due, other times you are struggling to get two papers and three readings done in only a couple days. For my senior year, I knew stress would be the main component of my time and energy.
When my roommate came up with the idea to create a senior year bucket list, I immediately knew we had to do it. I knew this was a perfect opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and do the things I’ve always wanted to do.
It’s very easy to set up. All you need to do is buy a poster board — that’s less than a dollar — and decorate it the way you want. Whether you use black or colored markers, the process is the same. You throw on a “Bucket List” title, the activities you want to accomplish, and you are good to go.
There are no limitations here, as it’s a personal list designed for you. The first task I added was to get a tattoo because it’s something I know I want and I am more likely to do it when I get to cross it off a list. You can add fun ones as well. One of mine: watch all the Harry Potter movies in one sitting. You can add easy tasks as well, like having a picnic on the patio.
A lot of people claim “college will be the best years of your life.” I never liked this saying because everyone’s experiences are so different. However, I have found amazing people. And alongside any challenges, this bucket list is helping ensure that I create positive memories that I will never forget.
Emily Denzler ’22 is majoring in business management and has a minor in communication and media