By: Tahyia Alvi
Staff-Writer
As I type this message, it feels unreal to bid farewell to my friends, professors and colleagues at IU South Bend. It’s safe to say that this campus has been my home away from home. Here, I had the honor of meeting the most helpful and courteous professors in the College of Liberal Arts, who pushed me to be great, not just as a student, but also as a politically aware human being.
To name a few, I am thankful to have crossed paths with Professor Elizabeth Bennion, who has been the best mentor I could have asked for during my short time working at the American Democracy Project. Dr. Bennion’s constant hard work and commitment to the leadership roles she holds on and off campus encourages me to be boundless in pursuing the best of my potential as a woman.
I also want to thank Professor James Smith for being a wonderful professor and advisor. His compassion and patience towards his students are unparalleled, and I’m glad to have learned so much from him.
Lastly, I want to mention Dr. Neovi Karakatsanis for always giving me a shoulder to lean on during my toughest times. I am forever grateful for the abundance of love she holds for her students.
My senior goodbye would be incomplete without mentioning the amazing people I met in college. I made connections that I wish to hold for a lifetime. Being away from my family in Pakistan has been a challenging part of my life, but I can happily say that I made friends like family here at IU South Bend.
Even though I met so many amazing people in the past four years, I want to give a shout out to my best friends, Ashley Rose and Angie Giron for truly defining the meaning of friendship. We crossed paths in the most unexpected ways, but I could not be more thankful to have had such a strong bond with these two individuals. I am excited for all that is to come for our friendship in the future.
I have had various roles during my time in college, from being a peer mentor at the Gateway, to being a Staff Writer at the Preface, to interning at the American Democracy Project and being in the Honors Club. Each of these has impacted my life in different ways and taught me skills that I will carry with me throughout my lifetime. I have also met wonderful people at each of these places, which I will cherish forever.
With all that said, I am thankful for every interaction, every memory and every skill I got the honor of receiving on this campus.
Until next time!
