As graduation approaches, seniors and some faculty at the University of Mississippi are preparing to say goodbye, reflecting on the memories they have made and the impact the campus has had on their lives.
For soon-to-be graduates, leaving the university may mean stepping away from a close-knit community.
“I am going to miss being in a small town,” senior journalism major Josie Godwin said. “I think whenever you leave Ole Miss, you don’t realize the community that you have.”
Others will miss some of the unique opportunities the university has to offer.
“I will miss the honors college most of all. The HoCo has been a constant source of support and connection since I walked onto campus,” senior public policy leadership major Kaley LeCroy said. “This community has introduced me to friends I never would have met otherwise, provided endless opportunities to research and travel and most of all has been integral to figuring out who I want to be when I walk across the stage.”
But it is not just students moving on. Some faculty members are also closing an important chapter.
“I’ll miss the connections with students and the moments I have with them,” accounting professor Mitchell Wenger, who is retiring in May after 18 years with the university, said. “Those are always the most rewarding parts of teaching, just seeing what they do as they move forward in their careers and come back to visit. I’ll miss that.”
While goodbyes can be difficult, students will carry fond memories with them.
“I am going to miss the little things that have culminated into an experience I can’t put into words. The recognition of your friend across the Grove because you see their backpack. The honks as you pass friends on University and Jackson heading to class,” senior general business major Sarah Liza Stockett said. “Ole Miss and Oxford tees students up with an abundance of opportunity to build connections, grow in new ways and have fun all along the way.”
