By: Devon Cormier
Posted In: News
Photo credit: Stephanie Turaj
Seniors Emma Taylor, Carolyn Marconi, and Kristina Hern gather at Gas Lamp Grille to celebrate 100 Days untill Graduation.
Graduation — a word that is bittersweet for most college seniors. It defines how far seniors have come, who they are and where they’re going. For some the future is uncertain, and for others big plans await. Seniors can only hope that the real world is ready for us.
It is approximately 10 p.m. on a Friday night. The downtown streets of Newport are bustling with activity as the flow of people surges in and out of local pubs, bars and restaurants. People seem anxious to arrive at their late-night destinations. On Thames Street outside the Gas Lamp Grille, a line of Salve seniors wait to be admitted. Inside it’s a sea of green as the class of 2011 don their class t-shirts in a celebration of the evening’s event: “100 Days until Graduation.” The event was created by those involved in organizing “Salve Senior Activities.” Much of these activities will be held during “Senior Week,” and may include a Salve night at One Pelham East, a Mohegan Sun Casino Trip, a surf and turf cookout behind Ochre Court, a cocktail event, and of course, Commencement Ball. This year, however, Salve Seniors do not have to wait until May to celebrate. In addition to “100 Days until Graduation,” a senior semiformal is being held in Ochre Court on Saturday, Feb. 26. Those who are 21+ will be able to attend, and will even get a free drink, if they so choose. Despite graduation and many of these much anticipated events being months away, the class of 2011 seemed to enjoy celebrating early as the evening at Gas Lamp continued on. By 11 p.m., the venue was packed wall to wall, and a line had formed outside the door. Some students had to wait 10 to 20 minutes to get inside. Once inside, it was another even longer wait to get upstairs. Some did not even bother to go upstairs, and they mingled and talked near the bar or around tables. While both floors had entertainment, the DJ on the second floor seemed to draw the crowd that night. Everyone seemed to be having a great time singing and dancing along with friends to their favorite songs. A couple dance-offs among small groups were witnessed during the course of the night. Adding to the fun, a few clever students even brought markers to the event and signed each other’s t-shirts. Some simply scribbled their signatures, while others penned more meaningful messages, or funny “inside jokes.” All-in-all, everyone was smiling, laughing and enjoying themselves. Ultimately, “100 Days until Graduation” was much more than a great time on a Friday night spent among friends; it was a bonding experience for the senior class. Everyone had a chance to spend time with one another have a great time together. It will be a memory that the senior class will be able to look back on and appreciate, although there will be many cherished memories for the senior class to look back on. Once she leaves Salve, Tyler Gilbert, a senior, said that she will miss the buildings, the beauty of the building on and off campus, as well as scenic Newport. She will also miss having “a reason to be in Wakehurst — a reason to be on campus,” she said. “It is so great to be at Salve.” Samuel Stimson, also a senior, said that he will miss the responsibility that comes along with being a student, and living on one’s own. After graduation he is “looking forward to meeting new people,” he said. By 1 a.m., people began shuffling their way out the door as the evening at Gas Lamp came to an end; however, it was truly a beginning for the senior class. There is much to look forward to. Graduation is just around the corner, and these next 100 days will fly by. It is perhaps a wake-up call for some. While everyone may have different plans for the future, one thing is for certain: Salve’s class of 2011 will always share a past.
