My greatest accomplishment: I was almost a College dropout. Almost.

The long haul is over (with a big long sigh and a tear in one eye). After the most stressful semester in the history of semesters (that being fall 2007) and the less painful spring semester, I will be graduating. This is probably the time to get nostalgic. Stand on the beach in silence, looking off to the horizon, while the wind whips back my hair.

But maybe I can leap up on the high horse and recount a few words about my experience at BSC.

It all started in fall 2004 when I transferred from Cape Cod Community College. I did not last long in the dorms and was promptly ushered out two months into the semester (for reasons I'd rather not disclose). This presented a major problem, besides my parents' aggravation I now had to commute from Falmouth (a 45-50 minute commute on the good days). I don't know what motivated me to continue, but I managed to commute for two years.

After reassessing my situation I realized that in order to actually get more out of my education I needed to move back to the Bridgewater area. It was not long before things changed for me after I got involved here at the paper.

But it wasn't quite that simple either. I continued to make a lot of bad decisions, but was lucky enough to stay involved with The Comment. After two years of working here I have found a whole lot about myself (add another sigh here).

I am sure if you have read this far you are saying: "Wow! Thanks for that recapitulation of your education." But for me, graduation is so close and I have to look back at all the things that have made up this experience.

How did I get myself into the situation where I was kicked out? Did it mean anything? Was it some sort of sign or just a stupid accident? All I know is that it made me have to try harder.

If I was never forced to commute to campus I probably would not have dedicated as much time to class and just continued floating along. By being forced to get up early and drive here every other day I valued my education more. It was not just some short trip to school. I was either here or at home, there was no in-between.

Having figured out that it would be best to just live up here, and branch out, spread my wings (insert any cliché as you wish) I still had a lot of uncertainty. What I really did not know was that I would make some great friends by just getting involved with the school.

I'm sure those of you that have made it this far are saying: "that's a great story pal, good for you, but who cares?" Well you're still reading right? Good, let's continue.

Those of you involved in campus clubs, organizations, what have you, are doing well for yourselves. But too many students here do not value their education. Trying to squeeze by the professor unnoticed is not a good way to learn. You need to be active in the education process. That is one of the major benefits of this school. You are not just a number in some lecture hall you are Jimmy, or Sally, or whatever your name is. The point is you have a name and your professor knows it.

So what if you didn't like the book or found the subject uninteresting, most likely other people agree with you, but that doesn't mean none of you should read it. If there is an assignment you don't like don't just use Wikipedia to get the plot details, READ IT! The only way you learn is to expand outside your comfort zone.

Let me elucidate if you will. I took my culminating English seminar on "Theories of Sexuality in the Narrative." I know what you are thinking believe me. Each class was very awkward as no one read, so no one participated in the discussions. Out of the nine or ten of us in there four of us talked on a regular basis.

What the hell was everyone else doing? I was just as uncomfortable with the material, but I learned a lot from that class because it took me out of my comfort level. To put it bluntly that professor deserved better students than what that professor got.

So this is the part where I wrap it up. I say keep your mind open to new things and get involved on campus. But I'm not ready to get down off the horse yet.

Some of the best professors I had were the ones that were the hardest on me. College is about good grades, yes, but it is also about challenges. The easy way is to employ minimal effort, but what do you get out of it? Nada! I had professors that made me rip my hair out and curse the day they were born, and you know what? I learned the most from them.

So don't fool yourselves, college is meant to be a challenge. Sometimes it is fun, other times not so much. But if you keep your head on straight and remember you are here to learn and grow that is exactly what will happen.

So this is actually the part where I wrap it up. Why did I tell you all this? Just think about it for a while, let it bounce around in there. I will graduate whether you get it or not. And maybe to you it's just a rant. That's fine. Just keep your mind open and get involved.

So let me get down now. I think it is time to look at that horizon, silently and nostalgically.