What feels like a few short months ago, we were standing at orientation all wide eyed and a little lost. We were just starting our freshman year of college. Now, we are on the downhill slide, facing what’s left until we become sophomores. It’s crazy to think that a year ago we were all seniors in high school. We were highest on the food chain, now we are lowly freshman again. Man, life sure works in a vicious cycle. I can remember saying last year, “Man I can’t wait till I’m gone off to college.” Now I’m saying, “Man this is gone by way to fast.”

My mother once told me that the friends you make in high school stay in high school and the friends you make in college stay with you for life. Now I see what my mother meant. Over the last year, I’ve made tons of friends here at CSC. But with good times come the bad. Over the last year I’ve seen a lot of people come and go, but that’s life I guess.

With the approach of summer vacation big questions arise like; what am I going to do over the summer? Am I going to work? Or am I going to try to get ahead and take some summer classes? Even though there are some big decisions to make in the short time till vacation, I’m confident that everybody will find their way.

And then just think, after this summer we will return to Castleton and start again.

This time we will be sophomores with some experience under our belts. Personally, I’m looking forward to coming back next year. I’m not looking forward to having to meet new people all over again, but that’s a part of life.

Right now, I am putting the cart before the horse. We still have about a month and a half till we are done for the year. We still have a lot of time to work. Lots of papers to write and tests to take. So like my football coach used to tell us: “It’s the fourth quarter. Now is the time we leave it all on the field.” So now is the time to leave it all in the class room and leave this first year with no regrets. Good luck to my fellow freshman in the final quarter of your year.

Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.

-Lillian Dickson