Senior says farewell with famous lines

I never thought I was bad at goodbyes until I had to say it a million times.

Whether it was to friends or family or, more recently, in various ways as I prepare to graduate, I have had to fight tears and wax lyrical about life, college and closing this chapter of life too much.

So, as I attempt to share my pearls of wisdom and attempt to say thank you for reading, I am going to borrow some famous goodbyes to help me.

“Parting is such sweet sorrow,” by William Shakespeare

Juliet might have been young and horny, but her words resonate in us all. I will not miss the Scantrons, parking tickets or mounting tuition. By the same token, I will miss having 40,000 allies who hate all those things, too.

“That’s all folks,” by Bugs Bunny

I will probably never get my master’s degree or go to law school, so this goodbye is my fond farewell to the grand days of undergrad. After I move that tassel on May 2, life won’t be so looney.

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened,” by Dr. Seuss

I think this is literally needlepointed on pillows, but it doesn’t weaken the sentiment. My goodbye will be tearful, but I have appreciation that I got to be a Spartan and a member of this paper. Get involved, don’t take your time here for granted and thank me later.

“It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right, I hope you had the time of your life,” by Green Day

You have no idea who you will be or what memories you will gather when you start rooting for the Green and White.

Do all the college things, make the mistakes and laugh about it later.

“Why can’t we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn’t work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos,” from Snoopy

Cherish the diversity and add as many people to your Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and Twitter caches as you can. You’re going to meet some Lucys, fall for some Charlies, get drunk with some Snoopys, hate some Pig-Pens and rage with some Peppermint Patties. They are all going to make your lives richer and fuller.

“So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, goodnight,” from “The Sound of Music”

I have only frolicked through an East Lansing soccer field but I did swirl in many a skirt during my time here. In sum, have a good time. From what I hear, post-college life is scary and getting out of control isn’t “socially acceptable.”

How do you solve a problem like the real world? Have fun now.

“Good night, and good luck,” from “Good Night, and Good Luck”

Fitting I end this column on such a simple, yet powerful salutation by a journalist I admire, Edward R. Murrow. I have loved defining my voice for this paper and I have grown as a journalist. Thanks for reading, sharing your opinion and keeping us sharp. Good luck.

Published on Thursday, April 24, 2008