Cheers to Four Years

Stories, Advice, and Farewells to Fourth Years at the University of Virginia.

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#12 “Cheers to Cassie Jones! I'm so grateful that I got the chance to get close with you. I adore you and am going to miss you terribly! There is no doubt in my mind that you are going to do great things, and I hope you can have faith in that and just enjoy yourself on the journey. This place won't be the same without you :(”

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Cheers to Fourth Year, Amelia Colton!  Take a peek at this short clip of her sharing her favorite traditions and memories that she has had at the University of Virginia!

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#11 "Cheers to Griff Shapiro!! Your crazy wit (sometimes rude sarcasm) and weird personality have made me giggle since I met ya first year. Even though you think that you're a tough guy, I know that you have a huge heart. You should ditch whatever research you've been doing out in the boonies and do something with your awesome photography skills. Good Luck next year!"

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Can you guess what Curry School student, Sylvie Harris’s, favorite course at UVA was? Take a look at her short interview where she gives some advice to UVA First Years as well as what she is going to miss the most when she leaves the university.

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Listen to Lissie Baker share some Fourth Year wisdom!  It is officially the final countdown to graduation!!

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#10 "Cheers to Kwasi Acheampong! I know I just met you, but I do not want to imagine what college would be like without you. From teaching me to be a better person to our late night mischief, I will never forget all the good times we've had. Walking places with you can be a hassle, however, rarely can we walk anywhere without you having to stop and speak to almost everyone along the way. Everyone would agree with me when I say you are one of the most kind-hearted and genuine guys at UVA and I am proud to have you as a best friend. You will undoubtedly succeed in anything you put your mind to. Thank you for being such a brother to me!"

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Cheers and farewell to the one and only Kwasi Acheampong! Listen to him share some of his best advice and favorite memories from his time at the University of Virginia!!

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#9 "Cheers to Olivia Brown, my partner in crime. I'm so thankful to have met you and honestly can't imagine the last two years without your weird antics, your bug-eye snapchats, your passion for adventures, and your down-to-earth outlook on life which makes you such a kind friend. I don't know if I've ever told you, but I really admire your drive and discipline. No one else understands that sometimes 'the stress is real' more than you, so I can always count on you to give a hug when I need it or to brighten up my day. Cheers and wahoowa to you, little Olive."

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#8 "Cheers to Jilly Mangum, you beautiful human you. You're a huge weirdo, but definitely one of the coolest people that I have met at UVA. I feel like any one of your friends or acquaintances could say the same. You're one bad ass, down to earth chick and you're going to kill it in the real world. Peace n' blessins. <3″

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Cassie Jones may have some fear entering the real world, but fear is a good thing.  Listen to her share her feelings about next year and what she is going to miss the most about Charlottesville.

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Cheers to Nicole Geist and good luck to her after graduation!  Take a peek at her interview here, where she shares her favorite secret study spot.

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#7 "Cheers to fourth year, SarahBeth Vernon!  You are such a kind individual and also extremely intelligent!  You have an amazing heart and I know that you will continue to shine after your time here at UVA! (:"

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Farewell to UVA tradition

 Every graduating Fourth Year will be an alumnus of the University for the duration of their lifetime, but there is nothing quite like participating in UVA traditions while enrolled as a student at Thomas Jefferson’s University.  

 Each year the Graduating Class of Trustees creates a slightly altered version of a list of things that each Fourth Year has to do before they graduate.   As this year’s graduating class is the Class of 2015, there are a whopping 115 Things to Do Before You Graduate.  These tasks can vary from going on a date to befriending a first year, but one of the most important and unique tasks on the list is to witness the Purple Shadows on Founder’s Day (Thomas Jefferson’s birthday).

 On April 13TH of every year, sometime after daybreak and before dawn, the robed Purple Shadows arrive on the Lawn and make their way to Jefferson’s statue.  They

Place a wreath along with a letter to the university community before leaving without a word being spoken.  Students from all years wake up very early in the morning in attempts to catch glimpse of the Purple Shadows.  Once they appear, students pop champagne bottles and snap pictures.  Most stay to read the letter to the community and other depart, happy to have crossed another item off of “The List of Things to do before you Graduate”.  

 “Remembering the purple shadows of the lawn, the majesty of the colonnades, and the dream of your youth, you may say in reverence and thankfulness:

“I have worn the honors of honor, I graduated from Virginia.”

 So, set your alarms and go check something off of your list.  Happy almost Birthday, Mr. Jefferson!!

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21 Things that Every Fourth Year Will NOT Miss

1.    The dungeon that people call ‘First Floor Clem”

2.    Signing up for classes.

3.    SIS and its common tendency to freeze when you least need it to.

4.    Charlottesville’s indecisive weather (and the pollen that follows).

5.    Trying to avoid ‘Tablers’ or people trying to give you a flyer on your way to class.

6.    Tabling or trying to give people flyers while try their best to avoid you on their way to class.

7.    The inevitable Freshman- 15.

8.    The even more inevitable Fourth Year- 40.

9.    The traffic on US-29 in the afternoon.

10. The feeling of defeat following the majority of UVa football games.

11. The larger feeling of defeat following not getting a ticket in the UVa basketball lottery.

12. Relying on the UTS to make it to class on time.

13. Student Health.

14. Charlottesville’s lack of free parking.

15. Collier’s towing (they will find you, and they will tow you).

16. The Charlottesville fencing project around the railroad tracks (forcing students to take a detour on their way to Grounds).

17. Hearing that “there will be no curve” on a difficult assignment or exam.

18. Still getting lost in Alderman stacks.

19. Getting asked “So, what are your plans after graduation?” when you are still on the job hunt.

20. The panic surrounding finals.

21. The realization that graduation is fast approaching.

Hoo am I kidding? I’m going to miss it all.

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Cheers to Maya Sadagopal! Although she is planning on starting her post-graduate adventures in Washington D.C., that doesn’t mean that she can’t stop and share some experiences and advice for those that follow in her footsteps.

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21 Things that Every Fourth Year Will Miss After Graduation

1.     Charlottesville in general.

2.     The Chapel bells ringing every hour, on the hour.

3.     Singing the Good Ole Song every chance that you get.

4.     Studying on the Lawn.

5.     Exploring the Gardens.

6.     Being able to talk about Thomas Jefferson for long durations of time without people becoming annoyed or confused.

7.     Endless amounts of free food.

8.     The morning of Pancakes for Parkinson’s.

9.     Staying up late and sleeping in (with little or no consequence…hopefully)

10. Bodo’s bagels

11. Living within about a mile from all of your friends.

12. Being surrounded by some of the most intelligent young adults in the nation, if not the world.

13. Learning to slackline or watching people slackline on the Lawn.

14. UVA’s architecture.

15. Late night Christians..

Or Little John’s..

Or Dumplings..

Or College Inn..

Or any late-night food from the Corner for that matter.

16. “Nerding”.

17. Wearing ridiculous clothing to themed parties on the weekends.

18. Streaking the Lawn.

19. The feeling after getting a ticket in the UVa Basketball lottery.

20. Miss Kathy in Newcomb.

21. Walking around Grounds, knowing that these are the days that they will      remember as the days as a student at Thomas Jefferson’s University.

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Cheers to Daniel Goldman and all of the adventures that he has planned for next year!