Goodbye to STU

The author at the T-ring ceremony, January 2010, photo by Ron Murray

So initially this piece was supposed to be a news story about the graduating class of 2010 and the 100^th convocation at St. Thomas University.  But, while thinking about it last night, lying in bed, my long-suffering husband snoring gently beside me, I thought to hell with that!  This story is about ME!  I’m the one going through an “end of degree” crisis!  One minute cursing the 5000 word paper I have yet to write, the next minute crying about classmates and profs I’ll likely never see again.  It’s been an emotional rollercoaster which my hubby has grudgingly been riding with me.  I don’t think there will be a happier man than he on May 16^th.

So back to my story; I needed one more to complete my assignments for the 4^th year journalism class and I didn’t have any ideas.  I toyed with the idea of an informational piece on hydroponic gardening, since I’ve been lovingly watching my three tomatoes grow since Christmas.  My husband figures they’re worth about $40 each when factoring in the cost of my Aerogarden, the power bill and the distilled water needed to feed them.  So that’s what I’ll charge him when I serve up his BLT made with fresh organic tomatoes!  Anyway, I figured that was a lot more research than my overworked brain could handle at this time of the year.

So I had this idea to interview some graduating students, and of course the news peg would be the 100^th convocation.  I ran it past our professor Don Dickson, and he said it was fine.  So I sent out an email to our whole journalism class asking if anyone would participate.  Yeah I know; journalism at its finest!  Even classmate Tj chided me: “You’re not supposed to interview your friends you know, (he said during our interview) you’re supposed to go out and talk to real people,” or something to that effect.  I admitted it; at this point I’m just blowing off this one last assignment.  Don said I could, so that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Anyway, I guess I just wanted to know what other students were feeling about this next HUGE step in their lives.  I remember at the beginning of the year, I was convinced I was not ready to “grow up and get a real job” but about half way into second term my attitude was shifting.  The workload was overwhelming, other life stressors were piling up and the financial pinch of two people living on one income was taking its toll.  I began to feel I had had enough of life as a student; I began dreaming about weekends in my garden, hiking with my dogs and hosting friends and family without the mountains of homework calling my name.

As it turns out, my classmates are feeling pretty much the same way.  Yesterday I spent some time with Jody, Jason, Corrine, Stewart, Ayat, Gilean and Tj.  All classmates in the journalism programme, sharing similar experiences in school but from vastly different backgrounds.  You can find them all here, at the Beacon, just scroll down below the main page to the Student Journalists, or I guess after next week, you’ll find us all under Alumni!  YIKES!! *wipes tears away*  Anyway, have a listen to the audio clips below, then scroll down to the bottom for my final thoughts on saying goodbye to STU.

Jody Nabuurs; Photo by Tammy Murray

Jody is uncertain but excited about her future. 

Click play to listen.

Jason Murray; photo by Tammy Murray (no relation)

University chums! Stew Corbett and Corrine Frost; photo by Tammy Murray

Ayat Abed Isaid; photo by Tammy Murray

Ayat is heading back to her family near Dubai, we’re all going to miss you!  

Click play to listen.

So that was just a small slice of thoughts and feelings from the STU pie of 2010.  For myself, I’m job hunting, but giving myself the summer to raise (hopefully) a beautiful litter of puppies.  A small buffer between my life as a student, and my future life as a “grown up” living in the real world.  One thing I can be certain of; I will cherish my time at STU and attempt to follow the lives of my classmates as they make their mark on the world.  Hooray for Facebook!

So for one last time; For STU Journalism, I’m Tammy Murray.

Transcript

Short URL: http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=5861

Posted by Tammy Murray on Apr 8, 2010. Filed under Audio, Opinion, This Week's Edition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.