Well readers, the end is near. Another year at Syracuse has gone by, and I think I’ve learned enough lessons this semester. I’m tired. Not only have I realized my bike has been sitting out in the rain, I also learned that yes, the chicken in the fridge was spoiled, and I’m going to be spending a lot of time in the bathroom tonight.

This semester was a doozy, and I think I’m all set on this whole “learning” thing. How am I supposed to understand 19th century British literature when I’m still learning that having a lamp on the wall above your bed is a bad idea, because it might fall and leave you with nine stitches and a fake eyebrow?

Last month, I discovered that getting lost in the mall is easier than you’d think, and that you should always make sure you grabbed the right bag before you leave the airport. The “Syracuse” luggage tag isn’t that unique, and the denim skirt look isn’t for everyone.

My worldview has been changing. All my life I’ve been told lies. A watched pot does actually boil, and an unwatched one will ruin the ziti you were planning on using to impress the girl you’ve been seeing. You’ll end up eating a leftover buffalo chicken calzone, and she won’t call you again.

Really though, I’ve had to face the fact that being an adult is not nearly as cool as I thought it would be. Jury duty is not remotely like a live episode of “Law & Order,” and I just crossed “respond to emails” off of my to-do list. My parents told me to stop calling them so often, and a guy from my high school just got arrested — again.

I also just don’t feel like I can trust anyone anymore. It turns out my TA did actually hate me, and my friends really were talking about me the whole time.

I’ve also had the opportunity to learn about myself, too. Much to the dismay of my roommates, I will apparently throw an alarm clock against the wall in my sleep and scream at the cat we don’t have. I want to say my time management skills are improving, but I don’t have a clock anymore.

But while all of this personal reflection is happening, I’ve also tried to get the most out of my studies. I found out that pretending to understand the law is a lot harder than people on Facebook make it seem, and that Wikipedia does not do most plays justice. Hamlet’s famous line was not originally supposed to be “To be, or nah.” I know that now.

With all of this being said, I am grateful for the hard lessons that I’ve had to go through. I only hope that these challenges will only help me become a better student of life and a better person. This column has taught me that I can make a difference in people’s lives, and that feels great. It’s just too bad that the difference people want is for me to stop talking. That’s not going to happen. I guess they’ll just have to learn to deal with it.

Ian McCourt is a junior television/radio/film major. He’s still trying to figure out the right way to tie his shoes. You can reach him at iwmccour@syr.edu or follow him on twitter @OrderInMcCourt

Published on May 2, 2016 at 8:43 pm