Monika Bujas, the Managing Editor of The Montclarion from Fall 2014 – Spring 2015
I think it’s only fair to say that, like most things in life, college has been a bitter-sweet experience. With that being said, I can’t decide if it’s been more bitter or more sweet, but I do know that college wasn’t easy. There were classes that I struggled with and general education requirements I despised. As I am writing this I had to question some of my choices in Gen. Ed. classes. For example, why did I take Anthropology? I learned to hate that class with every fiber of my being, but I went along with it because it knocked out two requirements. Another required class that was the literal bane of my existence was Computer Science. If I wanted to pay to waste my time, I would have paid for a karaoke room and sat there for an hour. On the bright side because of classes like these I learned about the Pygmies and I learned how to Google; why teach me HTML format when I could just pull it up? Although you’re pretty much doomed to have classes like these, you will also experience classes you’ll like or will absolutely learn to love.
I had never done or considered doing any sort of audio work until I took Audio Production and Sound Design II. Both were classes that I went into knowing that I was the underdog, knowing less than everyone else, but in the end I learned to really love sound design and post-production work. I discovered that I was someone who loved work that was a bit tedious at times, but rewarded you when you put so much attention into the detail of every project. It’s this passion and this enjoyment for my work that has gotten me an internship with a studio this summer. Sometimes you have to sift through a pile of turd to find a golden nugget and that is what college is in my opinion. I think everyone thinks they know themselves once they graduate high school, and I guarantee you that is a falsehood.
You enter college as a hopeful, fresh-faced kid and you graduate a little more lost than you were freshman year. Going to classes, writing papers, taking finals, having a part-time job, being in a club and everything in between — that all starts to add up. I’ve never seen an institution cripple people financially and emotionally like college does. Sometimes I sit here and wonder, “why am I doing this?” Who would subject themselves to the all-nighters, tears and anxiety college has plagued so many of my peers with? It’s not the only problem with college. I think ,like any student that has gone to Montclair State University, I can say that I’ve had many bitter disagreements with most of the various departments on this campus.
If I polled a handful of maybe 30 of my closest peers from this university, collectively we would probably have a total of five different discrepancies in one year with almost every department on this campus. I’m not saying this is a problem exclusive to Montclair State. No matter where you go, there are going to be issues with departments, corruption and coursework that will stress you out. I can say personally I’ve developed more bad habits than I’ve entered MSU with. Despite any “bitter 90s cynicism” I may harbor about my experiences here, shockingly, I am an optimist. Students put themselves through college expecting to earn a piece of paper with fancy calligraphy they paid thousands of dollars to get, but sometimes people forget the journey.
As much as we would joke about not having work after college and rolling cigarettes with our seemingly meaningless degrees, we have to remember the good times. Many of us may have had our spirits crushed, but college taught us to rebuild ourselves. College meant more to me and most students than just getting a lousy degree. I learned about trying to be responsible for myself, I’ve made some great friends and most importantly I’ve learned about my own determination and conviction. You are going to meet professors that not only teach, but will change your whole perspective on life. Most importantly you are going to find a place or club where you belong.
As much as I’ll miss breathing in the musty air of Calcia Hall, I’ll miss working for The Montclarion most of all. Although there is a lot of time and commitment involved in running the paper, we have never felt more happy to do our jobs and to work with one another. With every year, with every staff member who’s left or every new staff member, we all just click and get along so well with one another. This was one bond I’ll always have with this campus and I am proud of those who will be taking over next year. Also shoutout to my home skillet, suitemate and once successor Kristen Bryfogle and to my current successor Jayna Gugliucci.
Babe Ruth once said “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” Don’t let all the bad cloud your appreciation for the good experiences you’re going to have at Montclair State University.
