Four years ago, I took a chance on a university. I applied to 6 schools my senior year of high school, 3 private, and 3 public. At the time, I truly believed that an education at a private school was superior. After some serious talks with my parents, we realized a private education just wasn’t in the cards for me, and it was off to a public school. I visited Umass Dartmouth and hated it. I visited Umass Boston and deemed it okay, but the lack of dorms was a huge turnoff. I never saw Umass Lowell until freshman orientation, so I went in blind when I decided to go. I picked UML on a complete and udder whim, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. The experiences that have been provided to be from Umass Lowell would not have come to me at any other college. And on top of all of that, I have an A1 education with a fraction of the debt! 

Four years ago, I accidentally signed up to be on the Business Major’s floor in my freshman dorm. I still don’t even know how I did it apparently, there was an essay involved that I have 0 recollection of writing. I met my best friends through the Business LLC and found roommates for the remainder of my college career. I made friends that would forever help me in my classes, from helping me find my books for free online to teaching me accounting and finance. Shout out to my sixth floor pals, I’m honestly shocked we all made it out alive, even if we didn’t all graduate as business majors, we graduated nonetheless!

Four years ago, I stumbled upon a sorority called Alpha Omega. They asked me to come out with them on Thursday nights, so I did. They asked me to come to their open house, so I did. They asked me to take an interview, so I did. They asked me if I wanted to accept my bid, so I did. They gave me letters, and I took them. Fall of m freshman year flew by in a whirlwind, and all of a sudden I found myself initiated into AO. I have found my very best friends among these women, and they have provided me with priceless life lessons.  Congratulations Kelly, Monique, Jena, Alyson, and Maddie on graduating, you’re all strong as hell and inspire me to work harder every day. 

Four years ago I met my best friends. I was put into a triple my freshman year. Now before you start feeling bad, it was an actual triple, and for a majority of the year only two people lived there, queue your jealousy. I will forever thank Umass Lowell Res Life for placing Monique Da Silva in my life that year. She was my very first roommate and has been my roommate every semester except for one (we don’t speak of Fall of Junior year, sorry Jill and Anna still love you though!!!!). That very first day of college, Kelly Horan nervously asked us to go to a frat party and the rest is history. They’ve been beside me for everything, ready to fight for me, even if I didn’t want them to, ready to laugh with me, ready to wreak havoc with me. I couldn’t have done the past four years without them, and I can’t wait to be their bridesmaid and fake godmother to their children. Till death do us part. From Fox Hall to University Ave and everywhere in between, I love you two loser.

Four years ago I made the best decision of my life and committed to going to Umass Lowell. This past weekend I graduated, with honors might I add, with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. I’m reading to take on the advertising world and make online marketing my bitch. Thank you to everyone that has helped me get to this point, my parents, my brother and sister, my friends from Lowell, my friends from Wakefield, my extended family, and everyone in between. I literally wouldn’t have been able to do this without help. Thank you, love you.

Also if anyone has any job opps for your girl, holla at me please and thanks. I’m looking for a salary of at least $1,000,000, the ability to work from home, plus benefits.