Looking back at my four years at Bucknell University, I am eternally grateful for the opportunities this institution has given me, the people I have met along the way and the person I have become. Bucknell is a very special place, offering rigorous academics no matter what field you are interested in pursuing, with a student body that is both competitive yet uplifting and inspiring. The professors and staff are the most supportive, knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers I have ever encountered.
As an International Relations major and Political Science minor, I can confidently say that the relationships I have built with my professors throughout this time have been the most fruitful and rewarding in terms of the vast academic experiences and personal growth I have gained. Bucknell professors will push you beyond your comfort zone, challenging you with questions that are difficult and uncomfortable at times, but they will be there to guide you through your learning every step of the way. I cannot thank my professors enough, especially Professor Zhu, Professor Uçarer, Professor Chidambaram and Professor Larrabure, for instilling my passion for learning and my thirst for knowledge.
Athletics has also been a crucial part of my Bucknell experience. It has been a dream come true, pursuing an undergraduate education of such rigor coupled with an outstanding Division 1 varsity career in tennis. I would like to thank Coach Cecchini for building an incredible team of women who are as passionate about education as they are about tennis, making our time on and off the court an enriching process. The memories of being on the team have truly been unforgettable.
Lastly, I would like to offer some advice for incoming students. Bucknell is truly the place to be. It will mold and shape you into an entirely new and improved version of yourself. Please take every opportunity you get as a gift, and approach every challenge and every adversity as a possibility to grow. Going to class is a privilege, studying is a way to become more erudite and staying back to chat with your professor is an honor, to learn more from the incredible staff on this campus. Make connections, dream big and be excited about waking up every day you get to call yourself a Bucknellian.
