Members of the Class of 2012 Reflect on Their Time at St. Thomas
Published: Friday, May 18, 2012
Sunday’s convocation ceremony not only recognized St. Thomas graduates for their hard work in earning their degree, but also provided an opportunity to reflect on their time at STU.
“It’s really exciting. It’s a mixed bag,” said Alex Vietinghoff, Fredericton native and this year’s Tom McCann Trophy winner. “I’m remembering my first year right now. I think I’ve really changed a lot since then. I just went to class and would go home and not really be involved. I know now that you can get from STU at least as much as you put into it, and there’s no limit to what you can put in.”
“I love that we’ve got such a tight-knit community where everyone knows each other so it makes our graduation that much more special.”
Most graduates are parting ways with St. Thomas as students and becoming alumni, while some will return to campus to continue their studies within STU’s Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Social Work programmes.
“It’s a little weird to leave everyone,” said Matt Gould, from Amherst, NS. “We’ve all been talking about first year – coming in and not knowing each other. Now we’re leaving by walking across the stage with everyone we’ve spent four great years with. It’s pretty cool.”
“It feels like leaving home,” said long-serving residence advisor, Jeremy Fowler. “The closer I got to graduating, the more I’m enjoying the feeling. It’s very exciting to sit there and wait for your name to be called. I’ve attended other convocations and found them boring, but now, being the person going on stage, with all these people to celebrate it, is really exciting.”
“I have a lot of memories. All my memories are my favourite, I guess,” jokes the Hampton, NB native. “Moving to different residences, living in three different houses was a great experience, gaining all that perspective. I never won a Cheer Off despite living in so many different places.”
More than 400 graduates, their family and friends, as well as professors shared in celebrating the commitment they put in to completing their degrees. The graduates also recognized the help they received along the way.
Thomas Creagh, from Woodstock, NB, who will enrol in STU’s Education programme this fall, is excited about the next step.
“I’m just feeling happy today. It’s a great community, I met lots of people. It feels like it’s been a long time, but when you look back with all the memories, it went by so quickly. It’s both overwhelming and surreal to walk across the stage.”
“I’m so pumped,” said an ecstatic Emily Perry. “I’ve been done school since December but graduation’s finally here. I’m going to miss STU.”
“It’s the end of an era,” said the Summerside, PEI native. “I met so many different people and you don’t realize till you’re about to graduate and look around.”