I would have appreciated my freshman year much more.  Contrary to popular belief, you actually get the most attention then, since you are brand new, and everyone wants to see what you are like.

I would have spent more nights on the Cloister Patio.  I believe it's one of the more striking parts of campus, and the perfect place to simply watch the lifeblood of the college pass to and from.

I would have researched the history of Juniata more extensively.  Now, as a senior, I feel like I will be leaving a part of something I never truly knew.

I would have lived in the residence halls for another year, instead of moving to East.  The accommodations offered by the towers on the far side of campus are appealing, though the isolation I found there, not only from the rest of campus, but even next-door neighbors, far outweighed any luxuries.  The geometries of halls are very important.  I even felt segregated my freshman year in Cloister, due to its meandering passages, which leads me to...

I would have picked a dorm to live in freshman year with a long, straight hallway.  Trust me.  Long corridors provide a common artery for the hall's existence.  If anything funny, stupid, or dangerously intriguing occurs during the year, you will know all about it.

I would have taken a handful of freshmen under my wing, and taught them the ways of the campus- how the traditions should be maintained, how parties should be thrown...it may sound silly, but to witness a complete paradigm shift in the attitudes and aspirations of the student body in only a period of four years is completely disheartening, and alarming.  To walk across a silent campus on a weekend is like trying to read a book without the words.  Learn the traditions, and push for them- they're the things you will remember...

...and party.  You don't have to be crazy, or set out to make memories every time you strap on your bookbag during a weekend, but have a good time.  People in charge might try to hassle you every now and then, but stay strong.  If they only knew how dangerously close this school was to becoming a suitcase campus, they would ease up.  It's your job to hold down the fort until they understand.

I would have camped out more.  You'll hear a fine assortment of ruses about the ruralesque nature of Huntingdon, but the region is truly one of the most pristine areas around.  If you need to start out slow, spend a night at the Peace Chapel, and take it from there.  While I'm at it...

...I would have told more people that the Peace Chapel was designed by Maya Lin, the revolutionary architect made famous for her moving work of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  It's truly a pleasure to have a design of a world-renowned artist at our school, a pleasure few other institutions can boast.  Unfortunately, it's not an asset that is highlighted, and probably less than half of Juniata's student body knows who designed it.

I would have made more prank phone calls to off campus locations.  Unbeknownst to most, your number will only register as "Juniata College" on caller ID.  Such anonymity is had at very few times during your life.  But please, keep the calls sweet :)

I would have resisted the urge to raz others about their POEs.  As an Secondary Ed major, I come under scrutiny quite often, but four years has taught me that there are parts of my POE that are difficult, as there are with any major at Juniata.  It's a tough place, whatever you get into, so be ready.  (Aside from those Elementary Ed majors- everyone KNOWS they have it easy.) :)

I would have reached out to the Huntingdon community more than I have.  You may only need to see one "Go Penn State" sign on a local eatery to realize the relative disdain most of the town holds for the school.  Take the time to give back to the community- help with a food drive, or buy a Christmas present for a Huntingdon child in need.  My wish is that, when I come back for my five-year reunion, the gap between town and school will have narrowed, if only a bit.

I would have still taken the extra time to nail down a strong GPA.  Your peers may downplay grades during freshman and maybe sophomore year, but, as time passes, the amount of satisfaction you will experience every time you write your GPA on an application, or show your report card to your grandparents, is unmatched.  If anything supersedes such a feeling, I haven't found it yet.

I still would not have made excuses for myself.  If you slide into a streak of telling yourself "I'm only doing it because I'm a freshman, I'm only doing it because I bombed that exam...", please stop.  Making excuses is your conscious's way of telling you that something isn't right.

I would have still stuck up for myself.  This is a difficult lesson to learn, but, if you are anything like me, you will soon realize that people in high places don't want to know when you disagree with them, or when you think that you've been treated unfairly.  In fact, in a place where there is no one universal, all-powerful governing body, a lot of times, about the only thing you might gain from standing your ground is the scorn of someone you've offended for standing up for what you believe in.
You'll learn that, at some stages during life, conformity is preferred over individuality.  Still, you have to keep trying.  If I had to do it all over again, I would have taken the same path.  I haven't made much headway, but maybe someday, you will.

...one more thing.  If I knew then what I know now, I would have practiced my religion even more strongly.  That doesn't mean forcing your beliefs on others, but simply living the way your religion tells you to.  College is a place where many people don't see the need to remain close to that which they believe- please, don't be one of them.

· I would have studied abroad. I wish I had taken the initiative and realized how incredible of an experience it is to study abroad in college. Beyond the fact that it is more affordable than any other time in your life, I have never heard anyone say anything other than they had the time of their lives abroad. Juniata does a fantastic job of teaching us to be a part of the global community, but this experience isn’t complete unless you study abroad.

· If you have a designated POE, I'm sure there is something else that interests you enough to add it to your POE—do it! Even if you cannot have an individualized POE, take a diverse load of courses. You may never again in your life have the opportunity to study some of these subjects, and you may just find something that will become another lifelong interest.

· Get to know your professors—as soon as you can. They will not only become advisors and mentors, they will also become friends and confidants. This also can provide you with a link to laughing children and family life that you may be missing while living in a dorm.

· When living in a dorm your freshman year (and any other years!) keep your door open when you are there. This is the easiest way to meet people and make new friends. When you happen to have the hammer they don’t have and are looking for, you instantly have a new friend. And if you’re a freshman, that can mean a lot!

· Say hello to everyone you pass when walking around Juniata’s campus, whether you know them, see them every day, or have never seen them before in your life. This is one the most unique things about Juniata and you will appreciate it more when you spend time at other places.

· Spend at least one summer during college away from home. Whether you are doing something related to your career or not, this type of experience prepares you for the future more than any other.

· Find that balance between having a good time and getting good grades. Too much of one or too much of the other are detrimental in very different ways, but detrimental nonetheless. Don’t party all the time, but don’t study all the time either. Do drop everything and go have fun when all of you friends are going, but also know when you have to stay at home to do work while everyone else has fun.

· The people that say college is the time of your life ARE right. But remember that the time of your life doesn’t always mean a completely happy, stress-free existence. It means that you have fun, grow a lot personally, learn more than you ever thought but also shed a few tears, lose a lot of sleep, and are stressed out. Fortunately, those are not the things that you remember as the end to it approaches and when it is all over.

· Listen and read. Keep your ears open so you know what is going on around campus and the world. Being an informed member of your college community will inevitably lead you to being informed for the rest of your life, no matter where you are.

· Get involved, but not too involved. Join clubs you care about and make sure you care about all the clubs you are in. If you realize you no longer are devoted to an organization, don’t feel bad about no longer being involved. Become an officer in a club, or multiple clubs. Don’t let your head swell and keep in mind that this little bit of power really amounts to nothing in the grand scheme of things.

· Make new friends, but keep the old. Your friends at school will become your family, and you will spend as much time with them as you do your real family. They will be the ones that will be there when you get into medical school (or don’t!) or break up with your boyfriend of 5 years or have the best date of your life. But your old friends from high school will remember you for who you were, during your younger days, before you became a grown-up.

If I knew then what I now know I would have done a few things differently.  First, I wish that I could have realized earlier that college is only partially about academics.  This is not to say that I regret all the time I have spent working hard on my academic pursuits, rather I wish I realized that it is possible to balance both academic and recreational activities.  As time has gone on I realized that I have the ability to get my work done during the week and still have time for my friends and basketball.  If you learn how to balance your time and stay organized you will be amazed at the amount of work that can be accomplished, leaving plenty of time for fun!

I also wish that I had realized how important it is to be true to yourself.  Over the past four years I have had the opportunity to watch friendships begin and evolve.  I have friends that have become closer to me than some of my family, and for that I will be eternally grateful.   Yet I also have realized how some people are not always who you think they are.  If you act as yourself, you will find that people will not only like you but respect you for your true self.

Finally, I learned that it is important to enjoy each and every moment you have in college.  I often talk to people whom tell me college was the best part of their lives.  I have spent a lot of time just thinking that things would continue on forever.  Now, as my years at Juniata are coming to a close I realize how important it is to appreciate every day.  Years from now, I know I will look back and smile because of my wonderful memories and know that I never knew how lucky I was until the time was gone.

As you enter into the start of your time in college, remember to take a moment to enjoy your surroundings.  Never again will you have the chance to be so free. No matter how much advice you are given you will make mistakes.  It is part of growing up.  The key is to learn from your mistakes so that you do not have to waste your precious time repeating things.  In other words, live your life and learn from experience!