So it is. The end of another semester, another year. It is hard to believe we’re here again, and that I’m here, writing a final column. This has been a good gig for me- a job I chose in an effort to make myself write more often, outside of papers and Blackboard discussions of course. I wanted to get in the habit of putting down what was going on around me. I think it’s been a good habit- a kind of semi-therapy. Here at the end, though, there are a few questions I still have- about the past year, about Belmont, about life in general. Feel free to mull over these this summer when you think of dear Belmont.

What if the Beaman felt like Borders? I’ve often found myself with an hour or so to kill on campus, and instead of spending money at Bongo Java, I’ve decided to stick close and head to the Beaman. I never make it more than a few minutes before I start to get the itchy feeling I’ve crossed into an inhospitable environment, like a cold hospital or the waiting room of a doctor’s office the day before 7th grade when you have to get 12 shots at once. Not friendly, and not really all that fun. It seems to me that a student center should embody more of, well, the students. I picture myself buried between stacks of books at Borders, comfortable lighting illuminating my small table and cozy chair, the temperature close to perfect, just enough background music to keep me focused, and ample opportunities to visit with other students as they too are enjoying increased productivity in our student-centered center. Dream big, Juno said. Dreams can take you from here to…

What will we be when we grow up? Personally, this may not be a hard question for you. You know you’re going to be a rock star. Or maybe you don’t know. Maybe, like a classic “MTV Diary” episode, you thought you knew but you had no idea. The individual aspect of this question I think we should still be asking. The minute it ever seems decided for certain is the very minute the answer eludes me once again. Keep asking is all I can advise. I think we should all continue to be inquisitive seekers of knowledge and purpose now and when we grow up. The bigger question here, though, is if Belmont herself will ever finish growing up, and what she will be when that day comes. Growth is good, that’s why moms advise eating vegetables. But there are only so many green beans one can eat, and at a certain point even too many vegetables can lead to obesity (this may not actually be scientifically true, but I’m trying to make a point). I continue to encourage students, faculty, and administration to keep on the forefront of their minds what is not just good but best for Belmont and those who love her. If it isn’t good for you and doesn’t help you grow in a healthy way, most moms would say, “Don’t eat it.”

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Of all my questions, this one seems most troublesome. Every time this experiment has been attempted in my presence it has either ended in an impatient crunch or gone on longer than I cared to endure. Maybe this summer will be relaxed enough that I can investigate this further. If so, I’ll be sure to set up a convo on my findings in the Fall. Personal Growth. Definitely.

Let me know if you come up with any answers, and I promise to return with plenty of equally if not more pressing matters to discuss. Happy finals, happy book-buy-back days, and happy summer.

Abby Hollingsworth is a junior English writing major. E-mail: abby.hollingsworth@gmail.com