A long, strange journey has brought me to the end of my tenure at Saint Louis University. It is truly one of the toughest things I have ever had to do: part ways with strangers who grew to be the friends I never thought I could possibly have. The real world isn’t so intimidating to me; it’s the thought of going into it without familiar faces surrounding me that is intimidating.

I came to SLU as a biomedical engineering major. I will finish with degrees in finance and economics. In between, I have been blessed with many opportunities that I would not have had otherwise. From all of these experiences, I have learned that SLU can be a special place. Each and every student here has the opportunity to be the change they want to see in the world. That can’t be said for some other universities.

If I were to give one piece of parting advice to current and future SLU students, it would be to embrace the opportunities here. Take a chance. Do something different. Step outside your comfort zone. In the end, these are the choices that decide who we become as people. Believe me, when your time is over, you will sit back and wish you had done things differently. Take nothing for granted.

Take the time to show someone your appreciation. Each one of us has been given a chance to be a success. For me, it was because of my parents. Their sacrifices are the reasons that I am here. They are the two most selfless people I know. I don’t need a textbook on raising a family, because they wrote it for me. While they are aware of my thanks, it doesn’t hurt to say it one more time.

Let your friends know that you care. Go out of your way to do something meaningful for them. Stay in touch with them after graduation. If you get lucky, you will be invited to the open bar at their wedding reception.

Your friends are the ones who get you through your college experience. While I will remember the late nights which occasionally ended in watching the sun rise, I will also remember how we all pushed each other to do our best. We supported each other in every endeavor and became family. Now, after all that we’ve been through, we go our separate directions: to attend law school and medical school, manage political campaigns and to become the future leaders of successful companies.

Such is the beauty of life. These are the best four years I’ve ever had. To everyone that I’ve had the privilege to meet here: Thank you for everything. To everyone at The University News: I enjoyed the time we spent together. Writing was my passion, but it wasn’t my future. I will never forget the long hours spent putting the newspaper together, copy-editing to the point where words became ink blots and otherwise lame jokes captivated the room. It is a truly special organization that I was fortunate to be a part of.

As I finish my time at SLU, I just encourage everyone to live every day to the fullest. Don’t hold anything back. What you put in is what you will get out of your experience here. When it’s time for you to go, you will be able to gauge your contributions by how difficult it is to leave. Though they took a toll on my friendships, the nights I stayed in to work on the newspaper and to manage my fraternity’s finances were worth it. They shaped the person I have become.

While we will inevitably move in different directions, we will forever be linked by our experiences here. So, as you head out into the real world, hold onto the memories which you made here. Use those memories in whatever you do and be the change you wish to see in the world.

Andrew Pollock is a senior in the John Cook School of Business.