People always told me that college goes by fast, but this past year was ridiculous. It seems as if it was just yesterday that it was the second week of school and a hall mate of mine was passed out drunk in front of our door. Good times (don’t you love it when people say that?). It seems as if construction was breaking ground on the Free Expression Tunnel just the other day.
Yeah, right. I never knew to expect such great things in only the first semester of my college experience.
While it would be swell to dwell on such pleasant things, I would prefer the focus of this column to be on the great observances of this boy’s freshman year. When I first came to N.C. State, I was excited. Come on, who couldn’t help but be ecstatic about all those bricks? Tell me one other place that features such quality brick bike racks; you will be hard pressed to find one. If I had to pick one Brickyard in North Carolina that was my favorite, I would have to say it would be ours, but I’m biased. I could devote pages to my beloved bricks but I have bigger and better things on the agenda — trains.
One of my favorite things growing up was playing on train cars. Growing up nearby, campus allowed for the privilege of riding the little red train at Pullen Park. If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend it.
Needless to say, when I discovered the train tracks that run right through the middle of campus, I was speechless and overcome with nostalgia. Personally, the Amtraks that go zooming by are my favorite but one cannot go wrong with the traditional boxcars. I am a little jealous of those who live closer to the train tracks; one can’t beat the natural aura created by the rickety-rack of trains on a railroad.
Another aspect of NCSU that I love is the dining; I just don’t ever seem to get sick of the wonderful mashed potatoes at Fountain Dining Hall. Even when I rarely do, nothing fills me up like a four-inch monster sub at Lil’ Dino’s. Fortunately, it is with this sustaining diet that I have lost almost 10 pounds since I came to college.
However, I must stand up for the dedicated Wolfpack cows that help to provide such great ice cream. Without you all, none of this would have ever been possible. Keep up the good work. God bless.
None of these beautiful characteristics of our University would be as enjoyable if we didn’t have a secure campus. In fact, that is why I now turn my attention to the brave and strong Campus Police. These men and women put their lives at risk every day in order to ensure that the students, faculty and administration may have the safest and most productive school days as possible. Just the other day, one girl locked her keys in a car and within five minutes there were four faithful police officers to assist with the emergency. Such dedication and hard work does not deserve to go unnoticed and I refuse to let that happen.
On a special note, I want to compliment the skilled jockeys that gracefully ride around our campus. Sometimes I wonder whether I am at school or Churchill Downs.
As graduation rapidly approaches for this year’s senior class, I grow sadder every day. I feel that I have such a dear relationship with each and every one of you seniors, that I will be lost next year without you all. Lying awake and unable to sleep at night, I fear that the pirate ship of our school might sail off course without its top mate next year. Other mates tried to make him walk the plank before the ship docked, but they were unsuccessful, the Pirate Captain held ’em off. I hope next year’s captain will be as gritty as this year’s. Except next year, I hope to actually understand what our top mate says and that he takes himself seriously so that everyone else will.
As the year and this column both come to a close, I want to thank everyone at NCSU for a productive, enjoyable and, at times, ridiculous year. Here’s to hoping that next year is as awesome as this year. Cheers.
