What I learned at JMU

Here is a list of the top 50 things I learned during my four fantastic years at James Madison University:

1. Purple & Gold is the best color combination
2. Getting involved helped me make new friends & take on new challenges
3. Professors are people too
4. The tunnels aren't actually that cool (never been in them for the record)
5. Singing the fight song on a sunny day to a group of touring prospective students CAN make a difference
6. A sisterhood is a lifetime
7. You can sleep in class if you just wear dark sunglasses
8. You don't have to do things alone, people are always willing to help you out
9. Living on Greek Row is a once in a lifetime experience
10. It's okay to overeat at D-hall/E-hall, in fact, it's encouraged
11. Community service opens so many doors, but the most important door is the one to your heart
12. JMU faculty and staff truly believe in the mission of the university, and they live it every day
13. You learn a lot about yourself when you're surrounded by a 61%-39% girl to guy ratio
14. Get involved but don't stretch yourself too thin, you've gotta live a little too
15. It's almost never too late to change your major
16. Uggs and Northfaces combined with spandex is today's fashion
17. Dr. Rose is just your average guy
18. You can major in social media awareness (a.k.a. facebook, twitter, gmail, etc...)
19. Procrastination on facebook/twitter is socially acceptable
20. Getting overrides for classes aren't that hard, you've just gotta be a smooth talker
21. Greek life is not always like what you see in the movies
22. Party hopping is only cool when you're a freshman (or sophomore)
23. Living off-campus is a good test of responsibility
24. Anyone can be a leader
25. You can never have too many pictures with Duke Dog or the J Maddy Statue
26. Sitting out on the Quad on a sunny day is the fastest way to stress relief
27. You can never have too many options when it comes to dining halls
28. It's okay to belt out songs on the commons between 12pm and 1pm
29. Working at D-hall was only fun the first year....not the other 2 years
30. Having a cat in your apartment is not worth the $250 fine
31. The Administration does actually care about its students
32. Construction is a good thing, even if it's annoying
33. Just a plain bottle of liquor is an acceptable present for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
34. Changing your network to "alum" is one of the hardest facebook changes you'll ever have to do
35. It's okay to complain about a 5 page paper you have to write, even when you just spent many hours procrastinating on your paper to update your facebook, which probably equals the same amount of words
36. No one likes a party fouler
37. It's a Party in the SGA
38. You can live off of Ramen and mooching
39. You'll most likely know what the popular songs are after hearing them at a party
40. Only true friends help you carry kegs up 3 flights of stairs
41. It's so hard to get an on-campus job (that isn't in a dining hall)
42. Go to your professors office hours, they will be much nicer to you and will help you out when you screw up
43. You get your news from the very reliable sources of "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report"
44. If you have a dream for a club, it's not unattainable. Just start one!
45. Your advisors can become your best friends
46. The Student Government Association taught me 80% of my life lessons to this day
47. Graduating doesn't necessarily mean letting go
48. Owning a desktop really sucks, get a laptop from day 1
49. A bag of frozen peas won't heal a dislocated knee

And last but not least, 50. I learned that it's not hard to "Be the Change" once you've graduated from JMU...they give you all the tools you need to do it. Go out and embrace life knowing that JMU has prepared you with the knowledge, skills, and courage to make a difference in this world. I'm going to miss you JMU, more than you will ever know. But I'm never going to leave you, because you've made a mark on my heart that can't be erased.

JMU Alumna 2010

Peace & Love,

Candace