It’s hard to believe this day has finally come.

Coming in as a transfer student, I know my experience was probably different than most. When I first started at SMU, I remember thinking, “How am I going to make friends?” I am married, I live off campus, I’m not in any sports, sororities or any other clubs ­— how am I going to meet people?

I won’t lie, the first year was a little rough. School felt like a job. Go to school. Go home. Do homework. Go to school…you get the idea. There wasn’t really much to look forward to.

Then, in the fall semester of 2010, I found my niche in the world of journalism.

Some might think it’s crazy to switch your major three semesters before you graduate. I even thought so myself. But looking back, it’s the best decision I ever made.

In the journalism division I found teachers who really cared about me, who wanted to get to know me. Most teachers were so willing to help that they even gave us their cell phone numbers, so we could reach them anytime we had a question. We even had a barbeque at a professor’s house one semester to present our final projects and celebrate the end of the class.

I just want those teachers to know how much that meant to me. It was so nice to know that I was more than just a number. Some students might disagree, but I love it when teachers try to get to know me, when they ask about my life outside of school. I want them to know that I am a real person, who has a life outside of class.

And it goes both ways. I think, as students, we still sometimes have that kindergarten mentality that our teacher lives at school. I love when teachers give us little tidbits about their lives.

Whether it’s about their dog, their child or where they are going on vacation in the summer, I just love getting to know them as a person.

I also found classmates who were friendly and fun, and who actually spent time with each other outside of class. I can’t think of many other classes I had where students in a class together hung out with each other during their free time (unless it was required for a group project).

The Division of Journalism was like a family. We pulled all-nighters together, got Starbucks after The Daily Update and went to Digg’s to celebrate finishing our packages. From studying to Boulevarding, you never really felt like you had to be alone.

I’m sure many seniors are anxious to graduate. I actually wouldn’t mind staying another semester. Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely looking forward to not having homework, but I am going to miss my second family. Even though I’ve only known them for a little over a year, I feel like we’ve been friends my whole life — I only wish I had known them that long.

I have so many wonderful memories to look back on. I wish it didn’t have to end. I will miss you all so much. But this isn’t a goodbye; this is just a see you later. My dream would be to come back and teach journalism at SMU.

I couldn’t have done all of this without the support of my best friend and husband, Rob Giesey. Thank you Rob for all of your prayers and encouragement, and for putting up with my late nights at the journalism school. I appreciate your love and patience more than you will ever know.

I also want to thank my parents, Al and Jo Schmidt for supporting me through college. I love you both so much and don’t know what I would do without you.

And thank you to all of my professors and friends at SMU for making my last year and a half, the best year and a half of my college experience.

Sydney Giesey is a graduating senior majoring in journalism with a minor in English. She can be reached for comment at [email protected]