For our last issue we decided to write the things this past school year has taught us.
Katelyn Freil
News Editor
This year led to many big changes for me, including a new job and family and friends moving away, which has in turn led me to realize this: I am a grown-up.
When I was young, I always imagined growing up, becoming a veterinarian and living in a big house with my best friends. The first part was doomed when I realized working as a vet meant more than putting Band-Aids on paws and feeding patients treats to make them feel better.
I hoped that the second part –– while it wouldn’t be exactly like that –– would still be partially true, with us all living relatively close and still seeing each other on a regular basis. This year changed that dream as well. I may not be happy about it, but I have realized that moving and growing a part is sometimes the way of life.
My friends and family leaving was not the only thing that made me have this epiphany. My position as news editor at the Buchtelite has also helped me gain knowledge, experience and responsibility.
What is more important about this experience is that I have met some of the best people here. While most of us will be parting ways and will be not coming back next year, I won’t forget how much fun we had throughout a year of production nights and how much I learned from the talented, hard-working and thoughtful staff.
I know now that grown-up life cannot be fixed by simply putting a Band-Aid over a wound, and is not at all as easy as the 10-year-old me hoped it would be.
With this new realization comes fear and nerves, but also excitement and joy. I look forward to starting my senior year and cannot wait to see where grown-up me goes in life.
All the best to my friends at the Buchtelite and thank you for a wonderful year.
Abigail Chaff
Opinion Editor
This past year has been the most difficult year in all 22 I’ve had. To be honest, it hasn’t really gotten any better. I keep waiting to step out this growth phase and finally know who I am, but that’s not happening. I’m not going to write a happy little paragraph about how much I love The University of Akron and how, even through the bad times, this year was great. This year sucked.
I have no idea who I am or what I want out of life. I think my major is stupid; I would honestly be happy never working another day in my life. I would live like a cat and nap all day in the sun.
Its difficult to figure out how to live your life when you don’t know who you are. It’s easy figuring it out when your 15 or 16. But then 22 rolls around and you start to feel like you should be doing what everyone else is doing, whatever it is that everyone else is doing.
This year I hurt a lot of people. This year I decided to put myself first, and then found out that was wrong, too.
Through it all, I must say, the Buchtelite were always there for me. We become a little unit, and their support meant more to me than any of them know.
Maybe next year will be better, maybe it won’t. Maybe I’ll still be pissed off tomorrow. I’ll probably end up alone.
The one thing I did take away from this year is never quit. Even when you want to quit, you can’t. It may take longer than you want. But it can’t be bad forever. No matter how many bad decisions you make, and how many people leave you, 2012 was worse.
Oh, and Kevin Kane.
Beau Brown
Arts & Life Editor
“People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.” ––Ralph Waldo Emerson
I’ve gained a lot of life lessons throughout this year and I have to owe it to the Buchtelite. More specifically, the people I work with. So to the Buchtelite team, I give my thanks. You guys have no idea how much you have influenced my life and I couldn’t have chosen a better team to work with.
Abigail, you taught me that I shouldn’t be afraid to voice my opinions whenever I feel like it’s necessary.
Katelyn, you taught me that no matter what I go through, I should always carry a smile on my face.
Alex, you taught me that I don’t have to worry about what other people think because people will love me for me.
Andrew, you taught me that I should speak less and listen more. Because not enough people do that anymore. Katie, you taught me that I am also someone who commits the moral crime of stereotyping, and that I should be more understanding of those who have done me wrong in the past.
Matt Balsinger, you taught me that faith is just as strong as science. Matt Sympson, you taught me that I can make straight men not feel uncomfortable. Kara, you taught me that everyone has their insecurities, but that’s what makes everyone alike.
Heather, you have helped me grow enormously into a better person: one who is more capable of setting goals and accomplishing them, one who doesn’t give up, and one who, instead of being scared of failure, should face struggles with their head held high. Because of you, I feel more confident in my abilities to accomplish what I set my mind to.
Thank you guys, so much.
Alex Didato
Copy Editor
During my four years at Akron, I have participated in groups such as WZIP and the Buchtelite, and have served as a Resident Assistant in the halls for three years.
From my time spent within these organizations and positions, I’ve found that I have a tendency to over-involve myself, and take the phrase “over-achiever,” to a whole new level.
However, I’ve now learned what is feasible for me to take on, and in the process, have learned more about my leadership style, work habits and how my temperament responds to certain stressors and stimuli.
I’ve made the most incredible friendships within my involvements, and strongly believe I have found my lifelong friends. If I had one piece of advice for incoming and returning students, it’s to get involved –– find what makes you passionate. What is it that makes you excited? What group or organization would you find yourself being proud to call yourself a member of?
Being and staying involved in student groups throughout one’s college career increases the chances of retention and successfully reaching graduation; plus, you are guaranteed to make some friendships of a lifetime.
Despite not having much of a social life, or having the time to experience the “crazy college life,” I wouldn’t trade the time
I’ve spent invested in my involvements and with the people I’ve met for anything.
Kara Hemphill
Copy Editor
“I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.” –Sylvia Plath
For me, this school year was full of ups and downs. I had a tough fall –– not with classes –– but with personal issues. Lacking motivation for anything caused me to neglect a lot of opportunities that could have been wonderful. I was afraid they would go wrong, or that it wasn’t what I really wanted or needed to do. And so I let them die.
I’ve come to realize, though, that it’s never too late to turn things around, pay attention to those things you’ve been neglecting, and do what is truly right for you. I’ve learned to trust myself more; to listen to the advice of others while still being true to what I feel.
Happiness can’t be achieved if you live your life according to the standards of others. Striving for perfection can yield good results on whatever you’re working on, but in my experience, perfectionism only leads to unhappiness and dissatisfaction.
This spring was amazing for me because I made a lot of new friends in and out of class, and I realized that I still have the power to do everything I want to do and more. I pursued a lot of great opportunities and, most importantly, I learned to take care of myself while balancing my commitments.
Sometimes you just have to take a bite out of a fig and see where it takes you.
Katie Soinski
Page Designer
This school year has been absolutely insane. Between studio art classes, general education requirements, portfolio reviews and learning new things at the Buchtelite each week, my knowledge and stress levels have rose beyond belief.
My schedule has been crazy busy, but I’ve gotten it down to a science. Life is moving faster these days, but that definitely doesn’t mean it’s getting any less enjoyable.
Amidst the chaos of these last two semesters, I’ve met some pretty amazing people. I’ve worked, grown and laughed with my the Buchtelite team, been through some grueling yet rewarding projects with my fellow design majors, and celebrated many successes with those I’ve gotten close to.
The highlight of my junior year came unexpectedly though. The very first day of the school year also ushered in an incredible relationship with my now boyfriend of six months. I never could have made it through this year without him constantly encouraging and supporting me. And it doesn’t hurt that he, too, is a graphic design major and can honestly critique my work and help me grow.
The most useful lesson learned this year was how to prioritize my life better and make the most of every opportunity. As I am taking these exciting yet scary steps into adulthood, I am realizing more and more just how chaotic life can be, but how focusing on what truly matters is the only way to keep your composure and make
it through.
Letting go and just loving the life I have and those involved in it is so important; and I hope to keep this mindset as I embark on my even crazier senior year.
Andrew Krigline
Page Designer
Let me start this by saying it plain and simple, I’m a geek. I have two computers, one of which I built, and I rarely do anything not on a computer. I’m also a graphic design major, so this is somewhat expected.
This school year has shown me a lot about people. I’ve gotten to know more of my fellow design majors, and I’ve grown closer to my floor-mates here in the dorms. Interpersonal relationships are fascinating, but I can see that analyzing them isn’t the way to go.
Flexibility is king, just roll with the punches and take things as they come at you. Keep your friends close, the friendships you form now can last a lifetime.
Building bridges is far more difficult than burning them, but burning bridges doesn’t help anyone. A hostile environment is not an environment conducive to work. Seeing things from the other side of the fence makes a lot of things clear. People don’t understand metaphors.
Above all else, consume copious amounts of endorphins, and even more caffeine. That is the Krigline Key to a Successful Life.
