Discover more than just a high GPA

Rose colored glasses have already affixed themselves to the bridge of my nose, and I'm struggling to find that jaded sensibility that has guided me through my wonderful, incredible, incredibly trying, shaping, growing years here.

Everything seems suddenly great, suddenly brilliant and right and just as it should be. This is good, I suppose, to prepare me mentally and emotionally for officially becoming an alumnus of this place that has refined my thought process, friendships, and mental capabilities. But at the same time, I feel stressed about sharing all of the pieces of advice, thoughts, and recommendations I've accumulated with the thought that would I pass them along "one day." Now my day has come and I'm wishing I had kept better notes.

In those early days, I wanted to change the Institute. I didn't really know yet what needed changing, but I was determined to find out, do it, and be satisfied.

In my pursuits to fulfill these ideals I began to realize that there was a lot for me to learn. And somewhere along the way, instead of me changing Tech, Ma Tech changed me. Instead of learning just about how to run a meeting or reserve room space, I ended up learning about life, about myself and my abilities, and about how to really care for friends.

This is the most important part of a college education, finding and growing into the person you'd like to be for the rest of your life (or at least the next few years).

While you're here, take the time to discover what it is that motivates you to wake up in the morning and smile; find out what it is that drives you to stay awake until six a.m. working on stories about maniacal squirrels, and then do those things. As clichéd as it may be, you really will only get out of an organization, a friendship, or even a class what you put into it.

Almost as importantly, don't be afraid to fail: my fondness for the memories, people and value of my college experience has only been fostered by early disappointment. It's good to be rejected at least once in the organization world, and a humbling academic experience is always good.

After my first year I seriously considered leaving the Institute to pursue an educational option that didn't make me feel like I was bludgeoning my head with a brick bat. But I was already committed to studying abroad with the Brussels Summer Program, so I decided to wait until I returned before making a decision.

Choosing to study in Europe was the most influential decision I've made here. Studying abroad made me realize that there's a big world beyond Ferst Drive, and that while my education at Tech will prepare me for some aspects of this world, the nonacademic sides of Tech are what are preparing me for life.

Seeing the Institute from a distance renewed and reinvigorated my determination to succeed. My priorities were realigned to reflect my newfound understanding of a "bigger picture"-one that included defining myself outside of a classroom.

Aside from forcing you to reevaluate what you want from Tech, studying abroad also provides an opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with professors. There's nothing like eating french fries in an open city square and seeing ketchup dribble out of a professor's mouth to make you appreciate that they're real people, too.

This is my next favorite soapbox, the importance of taking an interest in those older people who get paid lots to teach us. Talk to your professors about their research-you never know when an opportunity to do undergraduate research will come your way-and take the time to frequent your TA or grader's office hours. As a grader in the school of mechanical engineering, I can't tell you how many lonely hours I've spent just waiting for students to show up during my office hours. Now that I've seen the other side, I wish I could go back and tell my sophomore self to suck it up and seek help when so much of it was offered.

Leaving Tech with an education and high GPA is not the total Tech experience; instead, it's being involved and taking advantage of all the opportunities this school has to offer.

Discovering that these buildings and walkways are fertile ground for cultivating passion and finding what you love will make these some of the most valuable and memorable years of your life.

And finally, as I finish this editorial and feel my college career coming to a symbolic close with it, snapshots of the past four years are reeling through my mind. As much as I'm not ready to reach the 800 word mark and leave my beloved alma matter, I'm prepared and excited, and now my time has come.