James McCarty bids Penn State Berks a fond farewell

It is hard to believe that 4 years of college have come to an end already. It seems like just yesterday that I was walking across the stage for graduation at high school, and now I will be walking across the stage yet again, except now I will have the prestigious title of Penn State University Alumnus.

I have plans to attend Lehigh University in the fall, where I will be pursuing a Master of Education degree specializing in Counseling and Human Services. Even though I will be getting my graduate schooling from another institution, Penn State will always be my closest Alma Mater, and I will forever bleed blue and white. 

Graduating for me is a bittersweet feeling. A person attends college to pursue a degree and graduate in order to get their ideal job, but I have always been a student at heart. If being a full-time student were a job, I would most definitely pursue it and get paid to attend classes for the rest of my life. I have loved every minute of my last 4 years, and wish it did not have to come to an end. I have viewed my undergraduate collegiate career as a lemon, and I have done my best to try and squeeze as much as possible out of my experiences. I think I can easily say that I have squeezed every last drop out of it. I do have more school ahead of me, and that excites me, a new start, new lessons, and new experiences; however it is going to take a miracle to be grander than what I have accomplished, learned, and experienced at Penn State Berks.

I ponder, what has made my last 4 years such a wonderful experience? What was the biggest defining factor that has progressed me to the point where I am today? I started my college career as commuting freshman, not knowing a single person on campus, not sure what I wanted to do with my life, and scared for what college had in store for me. I am now on the verge of graduating and feel as though I have accomplished more in 4 years than many other people do in a lifetime. One aspect stands out in my mind, as to why I have progressed so far in 4 years … it’s the staff, faculty, professors, and students at Penn State Berks. I have never come in contact with a more welcoming environment. I was constantly being challenged to succeed, while at the same time motivated and encouraged that I could accomplish whatever task was at hand. The people in our community are what make this college the best institution in the world, hands down. 

It has been a real pleasure to be able to write about my experiences for all of you. I hope each of my followers can see the opportunity Penn State Berks has to offer, and what a warm, welcoming place it has been to become educated, to learn, and to progress down the path of life. I would like to also thank all of my professors, fellow students, and the staff I have come in contact with over my college career, as well as my mother, step-father, brother, and sister. I can’t begin to describe how positively I feel about Penn State Berks, but all good things in life must come to an end. Trying to prepare myself to move on has been a struggle, but I believe Dr. Seuss said it best by stating, “Don’t cry because it is over, smile because it happened.”