Brenda Figueroa
The Paw Print
Final thoughts:
Here’s to my last column of the semester! I have compiled a list of closing thoughts:
To the wonderful ladies in my life: Thank you for giving me a chance to be a friend to you. It’s hard to find good lady friends. Especially for someone who’s used to just hanging out with dudes. It is wonderful having you all around and I want to convey a message to you. Read it loud and clear, ok? You are beautiful. Quit bullshitting around in front of the mirror pointing out flaws that you see. I don’t see anything wrong with you. Not one damn thing. I’ve never saw you as a person who should gain a few pounds, someone who could lose a few pounds, too dark, too light, not pretty enough. I see you as YOU. I won’t ever judge you on what you look like from the outside. You will always be beautiful to me for the simple fact that you have your differences. I love that you look the way you do. Start spending more time enjoying who you are rather than what you think people want you to be. You got it? You’re beautiful. End of story.
To my Housing and Residence life family: Thank you for shaping who I am today. I can’t imagine my college experience without my resident assistant job. I am so thankful for all the incredibly wonderful people that I have met due to this position. There were times where I tried to reach for the sky and all I got were storm clouds but most days all I had were sunshine and daisies. I want to specially thank the C/P/R staff and Alex Maffucci. You were all a daily dose of happiness. To the rest of the RAs, no one will ever fully understand our job until they are in our shoes (yes, mine are very well broken in) we are a positive influence on campus and the tiniest matter can lead to an enormous movement and we are the ones that are willing to take the initiative. We are capable of creating happiness and influencing lives and that is a miracle in itself. We are all heroes at one point in our position and maybe someday we will be cool enough to wear capes around campus.
To The Paw Print Staff: Thank you for giving me a chance to prove myself. I am a worker bee and that’s just who I am. I like to work and I work a lot. I keep myself best and it’s all by choice. Wednesday night became one of my favorite nights of the week. In between work we all found a place where we could vent, laugh, express ourselves and create inside jokes and throughout the semester we found ourselves in a room filled with friends. You all make me completely and overwhelmingly happy.
To all my readers: I want you to know, that you can come to me about anything. E-mails are always welcome and if you ever need someone to just vent with or listen, I am here for you. I might not have the greatest solid advice, let alone know the right answers, but I want you to feel comfortable enough to give me a try at least. Because honestly, if there is any way/words/random laugh needed from me to help you, I want to do it. Thank you for reading and for the teeny ego boost that I got every time I heard “Hey, I love your column.”
To the graduating class of 2011: There will come a time in your life where everyone is wrong; your parents, your friends, your professors, your partner, everyone and all at once. And it will be when you will feel the most right. When you decide not to attend Graduate school, but instead, pay for a one-way ticket to Europe and spend it on nothing but trial and error. Not knowing where you’re going next to when you’re coming back. You’ll hear the nay sayers in any decision you decide to make. My advice? Run. Fly. Leave. If you stand around waiting for everyone to back you up, believe in risk, or to trust your judgment, you will wait for the rest of your life. If it feels right to you, pack your bags and go. Make an inspiration board and go. Because you are right, and you deserve nothing more than to have an adventure.
What’s Been Said…