- My college experience has been a tale of two
educations. I enrolled at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in
Fall, 2002. Needless to say, it didn’t last. I learned a lot at UMass.
Unfortunately, they don’t factor life lessons into your GPA. So, while I
finally realized that college wasn’t going to be as easy as high school, my
time as a Minuteman was short lived. After a stint at QCC, which helped me
transition from a college-aged kid to a college student, I moved on to good
old FSC, where my grades began to reflect the potential that I had so long
been told about by others, but never myself believed. And I became a member
of The Gatepost.
- Framingham State College – drink it in. Goes
down smoothly every time (provided you’re at an off-campus location where
the violence and vandalism caused by alcohol consumption will not reflect
poorly upon the college). This isn’t an era where only men are allowed to
report the news, and I don’t wear suits so fine that I make Sinatra look
like a hobo. But I have written for The Gatepost for the past year, and when
they made me news editor I was thinking, “I immediately regret this
decision, but by year’s end, I often found myself racing to campus because,
as Ron Burgundy would say, “I must report the news.”
-
- But seriously, at FSC, I have been surrounded
by so many amazing and helpful people that I am ready to enter the real
world with a firm belief in myself and my abilities, which is something that
– as hard as this may be for some to believe – I have not always had.
- Now, as my college career is coming to an end,
and I prepare to enter the next stage of my life, I am reminded of the days
just prior to my high school graduation.
- One day, toward the end of my senior year in high
school, I awoke from an after-lunch nap to see my AP English teacher
standing over my desk. She said, “Patrick, one of these days you’re going to
get your act together and start working to your potential – I just hope it’s
before you graduate college.”
- Lenty, I think I’ve finally got there, and
before graduation. So what if it took me five years and three schools?
- I would like to take this opportunity to thank all
the people who have helped me to get where I am today:
- Mom and Dad, I cannot even begin to find the
words to express what you mean to me. You’ve been the greatest role models
anyone could ask for. You are my parents, and you are my friends. Having you
in my corner through the years has allowed me to believe in myself, and
finally find my way.
- Brenna, Courtney and Gillian, it is truly a
blessing to be your older brother. Your support has meant more to me than I
could ever hope to tell you. I’m so proud of all of you.
Gramie and Papa, I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you never
miss a chance to tell me how much you enjoy reading all the Gateposts that
Megan sends you.
- Batesy, Blette, Damien, Kurtis and the rest of you, I
know you’ll never see this – just like you’ve never seen any of the
Gateposts that haven’t had scantily clad, self-conscious freshmen on the
cover. Just the same, thanks for calling me every Thursday to let me know
what I’m missing.
- Desmond, so often you tell me that you don’t know
what you’d have done without me this year. Well, I don’t know what I’d have
done without you. Thanks for everything you’ve done.
- To The Gatepost, thanks for coming together
this semester and showing me why I joined in the first place. We overcame a
lot, and became a real staff. Best of luck next year.
- Hey, hey you. I couldn’t have imagined this
life.
Patrick Ball
Editorial Staff
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