Special Edition Spring 2024: Seniors, exit stage right to new horizons
Looking back at and to the future for the class of 2024
By M Yeager
The final finals week, the continuous check of Degree Evaluation, the gnawing questions of what’s next: There’s nothing quite like the last semester of senior year.
Many students count down the days until graduation, while others dread to hear the number — myself somewhat included. The first and last semesters of college are both times of transition, as we adjust from the former structure of our days to a new one. In periods of transition, it’s always beneficial to reflect. Here I offer four seniors’ reflections on their time here, including my own.
What are your majors and minors?
Sam Lackman ‘24: Communications major with minors in Leadership and Integrated Marketing Communications and Design.
Lauren Trowbridge ‘24: [ASL] Interpreting major with minors in English and Arts and Humanities
Louise Ba ‘24: Political Science, Economics and Public Policy majors
M Yeager ‘24: Communication Studies and German double major with a minor in Philosophy
How do you feel about impending graduation?
Lackman: I’m excited to graduate undergrad at St. Kate’s, but it is so bittersweet that my time here is coming to a close.
Trowbridge: Excited and nervous. Everyone’s been asking me what I’m doing and I’m just like, “Great question!”
Ba: I feel excited. I’m headed to graduate school in the fall, and not only do I feel confident in my success academically, I also feel confident and content with who I am moving into graduate school.
Yeager: Excited with a touch of disbelief. I can’t believe it’s been four years already.
How would freshman you respond to senior you?
Lackman: I think freshman year me would be proud, especially coming into college at the peak of COVID. It was extremely challenging and not how I expected college to be. I think past me would be happy because I’ve made so many lifelong friendships, competed in college hockey and found a major and minors that I am truly passionate about.
Trowbridge: She’d definitely be proud. I’ve accomplished a lot of super-cool things.
Ba: She would be very proud. I achieved everything that I wanted to achieve here at St. Kate’s, and more. I’ve developed incredible relationships with faculty, staff and students, and I’ve learned the true value of real friendship here too.
Yeager: They’d be proud and probably a bit scared. I’ve done so much that they wouldn’t have thought they had the confidence to do, whether it be applying for fellowships in Germany, the dissertation-level passion project that I am working on or how much I advocate for myself.
If you could tell your freshman self something, what would that be?
Lackman: Continue to work hard and stand up for what you believe in. Nothing comes easy and hard work really does pay off. With that, St. Kate’s taught me how to be a leader and speak up for what I believe is right in many different situations.
Trowbridge: Don’t be afraid to advocate for what you want regarding your classes. It’s easy to get swept up in recommendations from other people, but it’s all about what you want. Claim your education.
Ba: Stop worrying so much! If you only know the graduate school opportunities you’d have, and the paths you could potentially walk down, you’d be so thrilled and less inclined to worry. My faculty mentors always are amused by my tendency to worry first and calm down later when it comes to academics, so this advice is very helpful.
Yeager: Advocate for yourself and leave your room, you nerd.
Four years, four pictures
If you could sum up your time at St. Kate’s in four words, what would they be?
Lackman: First year was challenging, second year was normal, third year was busy and fourth year is bittersweet but fun.
Trowbridge: Freshman year — acclimating, sophomore year – inspiring, junior year – busy, senior year – mine
Ba: It taught me a lot
Yeager: Serendipity, advocacy, growth and fulfilling
What’s next for you?
Lackman: After graduation in May, I will be coaching youth hockey full time this summer before starting to work towards my master’s degree in the fall. I will be getting my MBA at St. Kate’s, so it is not a goodbye quite yet!
Trowbridge: Whatever I want, and that’s so scary. Hopefully something that brings me joy.
Ba: Graduate school.
Yeager: There’s a lot cooking on the stove right now to be quite honest. For certain, there’s a year that is up in the air. I could spend a year in Germany as a part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange or continue the work I started at St. Kate’s as a journalist and an academic. After that, applying to universities to pursue my doctorate.
Fellow members of the class of 2024: be proud of yourselves and put your best foot forward to the future as you exit stage right to new experiences and horizons at graduation.
