Dear Seniors & RWU,
In just nine days, the Roger Williams University graduating class of 2026 will turn their tassels and walk across the stage as college graduates. It seems like yesterday when we were moving into our freshman year dorms, nervously meeting our roommates, and anticipating the next four years of our lives. It was a romantic far away image. That image is finally here.
I associate important times in my life with music and songs. When we were freshman, the Stick Season album by Noah Kahan and Midnights by Taylor Swift were released and every time I hear those songs I am transported back to my Willow dorm. Now we’re seniors and Taylor Swift has released two more albums and Noah Kahan released The Great Divide. I can’t help but think how much we’ve all grown since those albums. Listening to Stick Season today is a different experience than when I listened in 2022. The Great Divide also reflects similar themes to graduating college with the complex emotions of leaving and letting go and the nuances in relationships with people and places.
Over the past four years, RWU has challenged me academically, socially, and personally, learning something new everyday, and I am so grateful for it. RWU also led me to so many new opportunities like opening my understanding of different cultures and the world by studying abroad both for short term and a semester long program; teaching me the professional skills necessary to secure internships in government and law; and the resilience to keep showing up even if it was difficult. RWU also let me meet my people who have been some of the best friends I could have asked for and who I couldn’t imagine RWU without.
My time as Editor in Chief of The Hawks’ Herald has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences that taught me the most. I came to RWU eager to channel my inner Rory Gilmore and flex my journalistic muscle. I began writing news articles, and rose to News Editor for my first semester of my Sophomore year, then stepped into Managing Editor second semester and continued that role until my junior year. Coming back from my study abroad as Editor in Chief, I wanted to be the best EIC I could. I wanted to foster a creative and collaborative environment where people felt comfortable expressing their interests, and I believe as a team, we built just that. Although there were challenges throughout the year, I learned from every obstacle and it made me a better leader, journalist, student, and professional. I could not have asked for a better organization to be a part of and I am grateful for each and every second.
