Time Flies

Written by: Erin Henze

I remember being a freshman at The Pointer, seeing these much more mature, maybe even old, seniors write their farewell to the student newspaper. I couldn’t imagine that these people were going to be done with school forever, finally becoming an Adult™. Well, I guess now it’s my turn.

The last three and a half years have not necessarily gone as expected. I got one and a half semesters of normal college life, and then the pandemic hit. I’ve always been the type to have an extensive five-year plan, so that really threw me for a loop.

My junior year was like a dream. I finally got to achieve my goal of studying abroad, spending the whole year in Europe. I studied Spanish in Valladolid, Spain, in the fall and took media classes in Liverpool, England, in the spring. Throughout the year, I got to travel to a variety of countries and cities, including Edinburgh, Paris, and Amsterdam. I met amazing people and memories that I will forever cherish.

In the summers surrounding my time abroad, I interned at the Experimental Aircraft Association, or EAA. Here, I got to work alongside some amazing people while learning more about the writing industry. EAA showed me that I was exactly where I was supposed to be, and I looked to my future journalistic writing career with excitement.

Then came my senior year. One semester, three classes, and a boatload of stress. From working for the school newspaper and the study abroad office to spending hours each week applying for jobs, my final semester went by in the blink of an eye. Sometimes I wish that I could turn back the clock and experience it all over again. Other times, like when I’m working late at night to finish my capstone project, I thank God that I graduate in a few weeks.

Once the fervor of graduation and Christmas is over, I get to move to the very far-off state of Iowa. A land of cows and rolling hills and… wait, that sounds a lot like Wisconsin. Though the landscape might not look that much different, I can’t wait to start my ‘big girl job.’ Come January, I will be working for a small-town newspaper, fulfilling my childhood dream of becoming a writer.

I’m not sure what my future holds (though I’ll certainly try to plan it), but I’m so happy I got my start here at Point. I will forever be thankful for the people I’ve met and the person you’ve helped me become.

Erin Henze

Arts and Entertainment Reporter

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