The time has (almost) come. Saturday signals the end of the semester for me and gains me a ticket home. I've had a great time this semester, but I am definitely in need of some serious R&R.

Leaving Scranton is always a bittersweet experience. Being around my friends and the wonderful faculty and staff here makes for a good time, but, even after four years, I still miss home every once in a while, especially when tests and papers overwhelm me during finals week. My parents, my niece and nephew, and the rest of my family make going home worthwhile. Escaping classes and assignments for a month or so isn't so bad either.

People have already begun to say their goodbyes and offer their well-wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Some of us get lucky and have all of our finals within the first few days of the week. Most of us, though, have them spread out over the week. And the amazing thing is that no matter how many times we say goodbye, there never seems like enough time to really celebrate the end of a semester. Most of us make up for it by celebrating the beginning of the new one in the spring.

With the end of this semester also comes a sneak peek of graduation in May. More likely than not, I'll be leaving my second home for good. Many of my friends will be leaving with me, but life will call us all to serve the people of the world in different ways. For the first time in my life, though, I have the confidence that I will be able to keep in touch with my close friends after graduation. Like I always say, being as Scranton instills a sense of community in each and every one of us that stays with us wherever we go. I think the thought of just signing off and never talking to any of fellow alumni ever again wouldn't enter into the minds of any of the graduates. Instead, we look to perpetuate our friendships and to build new ones with other people who haven't had the chance to experience what we've experience. This is our way of fulfilling St. Ignatius' call to "go forth and set the world on fire."

As for now, though, I'm looking forward to seeing my family, Christmas movies, chocolate chip cookies, and the end of finals. After a semester of anticipation and hard work, I think I deserve them all.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

(And I don't know if anyone caught "Heroes" on Monday, but I have to say--it was AWESOME!! Don't miss "The Office" tomorrow!!)

Posted by Robert Swinton at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This time of year on the Scranton campus is definitely a special thing. I noticed it last night when I was heading down to DeNaples for dinner. I may have noticed the change because I am partial to it, but there was just something so....uplifting about it.

There are lights all around the campus--lights on our beautiful Christmas tree on the Dionne green, lights on the wreaths that line the commons, lights on the smaller trees next to the nativity display outside the first floor cafeteria, lights on the ginormous wreaths on Brennan Hall.

In reality, this isn't a huge occurrence, but for me, the lights mean something so much more. They remind me of the times that are approaching, the wonderful time that I'll be able to share with my family and friends. And as much as I enjoy my time at The U, I am definitely looking forward to having a break, preferably one where I don't get sick. (For some reason, I always get sick on break. I came back from Thanksgiving with a terrible cold that I just can't shake.)

So, there are great things to look forward to...after the 13th. Until then, I'll be working on papers and studying for finals. (In fact, I'm hoping to get two of those papers done today!) College is tough; have no doubts about that. And it's not some sort of sprint toward the finish line. It's more of a marathon that you run each and every day. In fact, it might be a couple of marathons with the education, social, extracurricular, co-curricular, volunteer, job, and other requirements that you might make.

But is it worth it?

I haven't known a person who has graduated from Scranton yet who hasn't answered with an emphatic "yes!'

There is a lot to do during the next two weeks, but it's nothing that I haven't done before. As always, I'll freak out just a little bit the night before each exam and worry that there is some sort of mistake that I forgot to correct on those papers that I hand in. In the end, though, I'll know that I had tried my best, that I care about my coursework, and that graduation is only a stone's throw away.

I look forward to finishing up all that work but also to going home for a bit longer than four days. No matter how old I get, there's nothing like going home. I think Dorothy had the right idea.

Well, those papers are calling my name, and they're not going to finish themselves.

And remember: a nice cup of hot chocolate is your friend around this time of year. If you don't drink coffee, it makes a nice substitute.

(The first picture below is of my and my fiance, Liz, at her house. The second is of The U's Christmas tree on the Dionne Green. Merry Christmas!!)

Posted by Robert Swinton at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)