To the Penn State Class of 2016
Our time has finally come
To the Penn State class of 2016,
Approximately four years ago, we made one of the most important decisions of our entire life: we chose to become a Penn State student. While thousands of students choose to become a part of Penn State every year, our year was different in ways that no one could have predicted, but none of us will ever forget.
In 2012, Penn State began to fall apart. After the Sandusky scandal, Joe Paterno’s death and the removal of his statue, and the NCAA sanctions, it looked as if the future of Penn State was going to be very grim. The hatred surrounding Penn State was something that the university had never experienced in the past. Penn State went from an extremely reputable name to a tarnished one in a matter of a few short months all because of the actions of one man. At one point, we couldn’t turn on the TV without hearing the words “Penn State” and “scandal” in the same sentence.
We knew what we were about to endure was going to be challenging, but we didn’t realize just how much backlash we were about to receive. We were constantly questioned about our decision to attend Penn State, and even accused of supporting the terrible actions of Jerry Sandusky just for continuing to stand by our university. At times it was discouraging, but we never once contemplated our decision to call ourselves Penn State students.
We, the class of 2016, stayed committed to our newfound home away from home. Rather than running away from the issues at hand, we chose to believe in the future of Penn State. It wasn’t going to be an easy journey, but we couldn’t give up. Everything would heal in time, and regardless of how long it would take, we were prepared to stand by Penn State no matter what.
Our football team had its ups and downs, but that was expected. We went through two head coaches during our time as students at Penn State, which was something entirely foreign to our football program in the past. O’Brien rebuilt our team from essentially nothing, and Franklin assured us that Penn State football was going to dominate the state. We were even here to celebrate JoePa’s 409 wins being restored when the NCAA sanctions were lifted – something Penn State never thought that we would see.
But it was during this difficult time that we embraced the fact that Penn State is so much more than just “a football school.” Penn State became more of a family than ever before. “We are” took on a whole new meaning, one that we as the class of 2016 felt on a personal level. The overwhelming support from other students, alumni, and even complete strangers made the Penn State community stronger than we ever imagined it could be.
2016, we’ve seen and done it all. We are the last group of Penn Staters able to say we’ve tried a Grillers’ grilled cheese after running into Boombox Guy on the corner of Beaver Avenue at 1am. We survived both the HUB lawn and the Berkey Creamery’s renovation hiatuses that seemed as if they were never going to end. We are proud to say we have been a part of the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, THON, which has raised over $127 million to date for pediatric cancer. And lastly, we know that as long as we live, we’ll always cherish our memory of the legendary and victorious Penn State vs. Michigan football game in 2013.
Even though we saw Penn State at its lowest point, we never lost hope. We stood by our university and are still here today to celebrate how far we’ve come. Penn State has done a complete 180, and so have we. We’ve grown so much both as individuals and as a collective student body, and for that reason we’re forever grateful to have been a part of such an amazing university’s journey.
To the class of 2020 – you’re in great hands. I know you’ve probably heard a million times that college is “the best four years of your life,” and I can say with confidence that is entirely true. College goes by in the blink of an eye, so take in every moment while you can. Make yourself and your university proud in every aspect of your undergraduate experience, and never forget why you’re here.
Seniors – let’s go out with a bang. Go out on a weeknight even if your bank account is hurting, just because. Relive your glory days at a frat just for old times sake, knowing you’ll most likely immediately regret your decision anyway. Skip class on a sunny day just to chill out on the HUB / Old Main lawn. Our days as undergraduate students are limited, so we need to live up each one while we still can.
Even when we graduate, we’ll know that we have been, and always will be, Penn State proud.
Sincerely,
A soon to be Penn State alum