Looking back on the past four years, how do I measure my time at Fordham University? In credits? 144. In classes I took in Faculty Memorial Hall? 17. In times I’ve moved? 10. In Ram Van rides? Lost count. 

These factors are not the things I will take with me from my time at Fordham. Rather, I will carry with me the wisdom of professors in my field, opening my eyes to how academia, higher education and research can help fight for the underserved and marginalized. 

I’ll measure it in sleepless nights out in New York City with my best friends laughing until we can’t breathe as the sun rises. I’ll remember living out my dreams of studying abroad and traveling the world with my best friends. 

I’ll lose count of the transformative “pinch me” moments I had while gaining professional experience working in the highest branches of government and for major news outlets, flooring my younger self, who had these exact dreams and never expected to achieve them as an undergraduate.

I’ll remember the transformative faculty I had that nurtured me and shaped my career path – helping me to solidify my purpose, escalate my confidence, accomplish and inspire more dreams. 

Frankly, I wasn’t sure about Fordham at first. I initially picked it because it was the most affordable for my family, I could be close to my big sister and it still had a traditional campus even in the midst of New York City.

And not every moment was perfect, from tuition increases to finals crashouts in the library, campus drama and grappling with student debt, there were definitely some trying times.

But I would not trade my Fordham experience for the world. Cura personalis changed my life, and “being men and women for others” is something I will take with me forever. I owe so much of who I am today to my coursework, professors, club participation and access to opportunities I had because of Fordham and living in New York City. 

Most importantly, and saving the absolute best thing I can tally from my time as a Ram for last, is meeting some of my lifelong best friends and platonic soulmates at Fordham. 

As I approach milestones in my life, I know we are forever linked, and they will be there every step of the way. In those moments, I will look over at them, remembering our adventures living out our late teens and early twenties in New York City. 

Knowing that we never would have met if we all didn’t settle on a smaller Jesuit school that a lot of people mistake for “Florida” and get serendipitously placed next to one another in a traditionally upperclassman dorm far from every other first year.