Everyone, at one point in their life, makes a wish, a wish to go back and alter the past. Of course, when it’s time to pack the bags and graduate, this wish might seem impossible. The past is unchangeable and the future unknown, but one decision can generate a lifetime of regret, happiness or gratitude.

The following is a composition of Dos and Don’ts as collected from this year’s graduating seniors. Though they cannot undo their decisions, or alter their past, they can impart their advice to their fellow students. This is especially relevant in college when many great opportunities exist and the majority of the responsibility lies upon the student to explore those opportunities.

If you have not given this list prior thought—it’s not too late. Each day is an opportunity, a chance to BE MORE. Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior or even senior, it’s not too late to explore your potential and try something new. As one incredibly ancient and wise tortoise in Kung Fu Panda describes, ‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the ‘PRESENT.’ Learning to let go is important, and learning to live in the present crucial, don’t become too concerned about what will be or what was, or else the “present” is wasted.

[KATE STACHOWIAK]

Do

• Really spend time with building relationships with others! Sit down and just talk!
• Be present to the people around you as well as the opportunities that arise and be present to your own needs and wants!
• Be random!
• There is so much more to life than just alcohol.  Spend at least one weekend a month not drinking.  You would be surprised what else there is to do.
• Visit your friends/roommates from Loras in their hometown and invite them to visit your hometown.

[SARAH CUNNINGHAM]
Do

• Find a spot in the library where you can get comfortable. Once you find a little “comfort zone” you will be amazed at the amount of concentration you are able to give your work.
• Spend a few nights staying out way too late. You may be tired, but you’ll get through the day just fine. There’s also a chance you may make some of the best memories of your college career.
• Over involve yourself for awhile. You can always pick and choose what you like best as you go along. College is a chance to try new things and discover new interests.

[KATE EARLEYWINE]

Do

• Be open to new perspectives.
• Enjoy late night talks.
• Ask yourself, “Who am I? Why am I here? Who do I want to become?”
• Get to know the resources our campus and community offer.
• Go on adventures and explore Dubuque.

Don’t

• Take your friends for granted.
• Forget to take care of yourself.
• Take college for classes, but for unique opportunities to live, grow and learn.
• Forget to embrace every moment and learn as much as you can from the good and the bad.

[ANDREW BUDI]

Do

• Work hard.
• Hand in homework early.Study and get good grades (they have not gone out of fashion).
• Talk to your friends and professors if you are confused.
• Avoid staring at your Facebook the entire class period and then try to explain that you just don’t get it.

[JAMES M JOHNSON]

Don’t

• Attend large house parties; the potential consequences are not worth the temporary enjoyment!
• Go home on weekends! Too many freshmen miss out on fun opportunities by leaving on weekends.
• Skip classes. Many teachers put a lot of weight into attendance and missing class can come back to haunt you.
• Forget to take any of Dr. Cochran’s politics classes. The two politics classes I had with Dr. Cochran were my favorite courses of my
• Loras experience (and I’m not even a Political Science major).
• Forget to give soccer a chance and watch the Loras play. Many people may think soccer is boring but I believe that they might think differently if they attend a match of the nationally ranked Loras men’s soccer team.

[ZACHARY GRIES]

Do

• Exercise! It might suck while lugging your bag to the AWC but you’ll feel SO much better afterwards (especially with all the stress of college)
• Try new restaurants! There’s a ton of small restaurants downtown and all over Dubuque; make it an adventure to find and try new ones with your friends.
• Try being the designated driver! Your friends will appreciate you and you’ll gain an interesting and FUN new perspective (and when your friends wake up in the a.m. hungover, you’ll have the last laugh!)
• Steal a cafeteria tray during the winter and go sledding with it
• Play zombies vs. humans!

Don’t

• Spend all your money at the beginning of the semester
• Get mad at your friends during housing sign up
• Forget to eat fruits and veggies!
• Say “yes” to something you don’t want to do
• Assume you’re going to remember all your homework assignments without writing them down!

[GERMAN PODGORNYI]

Do

• Do assignments early, you will have to do them anyway at some point. All-nighters are not fun if you have to finish assignment by 8am.
• Close your eyes for 10 seconds, and if you do not feel well or head spinning, stop or take a break, or you will be “worshiping the throne the rest of the night.”
• Talk to professors after class, some of them know lots of funny stories or just additional information.
• Log off Facebook unless you want to see how creative your friends can be with your status.

Don’t

• Worry too much about rules too much.
• Read jokes in class, some of them are too funny.