Echoes: A reflection of my time here

Sometimes it happens during the middle of a walk to class or on Friday afternoons when the week has wrapped up. Sometimes it hits me during late night trips to the library or even going to and from the Plex; all of a sudden it sinks in - I realize I am part of something greater than I could ever have imagined.

I see the buildings tower toward the sun-lit sky or walk in the nights' shadows the moon casts down over our campus. I realize the great gift I've been given - the gift to be a part of the culture and community of this remarkable University. It's not just a college education - it's about being forever changed and appreciative for learning and experiencing life's lessons at this unique place, Boston College.

These last few weeks of senior year are a funny time for those of us heading out on May 23. It has become common to hear people say "I am ready to graduate." We are all eager to move on, be let loose into the real world, and to apply what we've learned through our education. Despite this excitement to take the next step, part of me thinks back over the past four years and can't help but want to reflect on the memories.

There have been plenty of parties and tons of alcohol. We've all gone on countless service trips and attended hundreds of meetings. Everyone has had their fair share of papers and hours spent studying for exams. You can't even begin to tally the number of trips to late night and piles of chicken poppers. I've been to the a cappella shows, the homecoming dances, the outdoor concerts, and the full lineup of retreats.

All of these pieces have come together to shape my college experience. At the very core of it all, however, there is no question as to what has had the most prolific affect on me these past four years. When I drove through the gates of Linden Lane and approached the Golden Eagle on my very first visit to BC, I never expected that the relationships I would develop at this University would change my life forever.

Amid the coursework and social gatherings, there have been conversations I've shared with friends I will never forget. Conversations filled with practical questions, vulnerable truth, disappointing answers, life challenges, laughter, humility, sadness, trust, and ultimately love. These relationships have helped me learn how to grab a hold of life's journey and experience all aspects of the ride. They've taught me to be a more authentic human being and expose my soul. They've picked me up during the lows and shared in the joy of the highs. Ultimately, my friendships have helped me explain the mystery of why I will forever cherish these years at BC.

So as the next few weeks come and we pack up our rooms to move on with our lives, I am sure I will think back over many of the defining moments. I know I'll miss the football games, the Sunday night mass, the late nights in the Mods, the Superfan shirts, the silence of Bapst, the lunches in the Eagle's Nest, and the afternoons on the Dustbowl.

But what I will miss most are those moments when it sinks in, when I look around and realize what I am a part of. It's those times when I am completely alone, but the echoes of the conversations and aura of the stillness are dancing in my head.

In the end, I'll realize I am overcome with a sense of joy. I confidently know I will always carry the spirit of this University in my heart and will forever be grateful to be a student of BC.

Michael Hundgen is a senior in the Carroll School of Management.