After four long years, my undergraduate years are finally coming to a close. It’s true what everyone else told me, it snuck up on me faster than I ever imagined it would.

I wouldn’t trade my four years here at Iona for anything. I have my regrets just like everyone else, but I’ve made countless amounts of friends and connections that have formed memories that will last a lifetime.

With graduation looming, I had to make the next big decision in my life. I had the choice between heading out into the real world with my degree and starting my career, or I could apply to and enroll in graduate classes and earn my masters. I recently decided that I would apply for the Sports Communication and Media Graduate Program here at Iona and I was accepted. After weighing the pros and cons of both of the decisions, I decided that now was the best time to continue my education while also gaining valuable experience.

Earlier this year, I was blessed with the opportunity to intern with the athletics department on campus. I have been working with the athletics communications team since the first couple of months of my senior year and it has opened my eyes to a whole new part of the mass communications field. Through working with the athletics department and helping produce ESPN3 broadcasts of sporting events on campus, I have realized that I want to work in the sports media business.

Beyond that, my internship has allowed me to gain invaluable experience and network with individuals I never believed I would be able to connect with. My internship with Iona Athletics has been transformative for me and it helped shape what I want to do with my life as I move closer and closer to officially embedding myself in the dreaded “real world.”

I am definitely looking forward to the next chapter of my life and I’m grateful that I can continue it here at Iona, which feels like home to me. I won’t forget the people and things that helped me get to where I’m at right now. Specifically, the three clubs that I was a part of for most of my time as an undergraduate (Pi Kappa Phi, “The Ionian” and the Edmund Rice Society) have produced the most impactful memories and blessed me with the people that support me everyday in my journey. This column is for everyone that has had a positive impact on my life, no matter how big or small, during my time at Iona. I want to thank each and every one of you and I wish nothing but the best for all of you. Thank you.