Graduating on a Positive Note

Hello everyone! As you can see my name is Emma and I am in my last semester of education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. I am also, along with the rest of the world, facing sacrifices and heartbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic. I could easily use this platform to complain about my college experience starting my freshman year in 2016 when Trump was ushered into presidency and not on my vote, to current day, my senior year, when my and many others’ graduation ceremony has been postponed amid uncertain times. There are plenty of things to complain about--especially being stuck at home--but I would like to take this time and in a reasonable amount of characters to explain why I, as well as the graduating class of 2020, should not complain.

I have always pictured a commencement ceremony as a time to reflect on the accomplishments that I have achieved to be able to earn a diploma. Why wait until December to do this? I have had a lot of time on my hands. Why not reflect when I have all the time in the world? Although I am proud of my accomplishments there is some credit I need to give to some of the best people who deserve it.

First off I think about where my academic career started at a small parish in St. Peters, Missouri, Sts. Joachim and Ann. In my time there I completed grades Pre-K through 8th with a graduating class of 25 students. This is where I would like to thank some of my favorite teachers. Thank you Mrs. Manuel, my kindergarten teacher I will never forget Eat, Eat, Eat, Epples and Benene’s with my vowels. Thank you, Mr. Tramont, for showing me the mind behind Alfred Hitchcock in Rear Window. Thank you, Mrs. Bolton, (for being friends with my mom and showing me how to properly enjoy concerts) for making me Ursula in the 8th grade play, I didn’t know at the time but she is actually my spirit animal.

After my time at Sts. Joachim and Ann, I attended Francis Howell North Highschool, where I made more than a few mistakes and probably should have applied myself a little more. During my time in high school I played a lot of sports and enjoyed some of the best and worst memories I can think of. Thank you, Mrs. Just. Not only are you a fantastic cook, you showed me that it’s not impossible to cook. Thank you, Mrs. Keil for letting me discover my love for journalism; it has led me down a pretty cool path.

After Francis Howell North, I attended Jefferson College and St. Charles Community College, both for one year, and ended up at my final destination, the University of Missouri- St. Louis. Although I can’t name too many people, I have known enough about the few I can name who have pushed me to be the best I can be,: Tristan, Tori, Stephanie and Ryan. Thank you, Tristan for pushing me to join The Current and meet some of the best people. Thank you, Tori for always checking on me and making sure I get my stories in. Thank you, Stephanie and Ryan for pushing me to think outside the box and explore creative options.

Along the way I have always had my family and they have been my biggest support system but without the people mentioned above along with many others I would not be where I am today. I would not be graduating. I would not have a work ethic. I would not be me. While most of my accomplishments are materialistic, the people I have met along this journey are irreplaceable.

With the tough times we are living through, I am proud to say I am GRADUATING ON A POSITIVE NOTE.