Alumna, Class of ’07, Returns to Campus; Relives Memories
Maaret Klaber
Contributor
I recently came back to the McDaniel campus for the first time, while classes were in session, since my graduation.
I first surprised the swim team (which I was a part of for all four years) by showing up at the Centennial Conference Championships in Lancaster. Then I showed up on campus having only told two people (one student, and one teacher) that I was coming.
I don’t recommend it ? if you want to see people they should know you are coming, but it was necessary to be secretive if I was going to surprise the team. It was nice to walk around campus, to wander around visiting professors .
One thing about coming back , those students I did know have changed; they are not sophomores or freshmen anymore ? no matter how much I might want to still be a senior .
If you have built up as good a connection with your teachers as I did, then they will be there to go back to, to talk to, to get advice from, and to remember with. For the most part they will definitely be there; professors are less likely to leave, especially with the current economy.
Coming back was overwhelming; in two days I saw at least ten professors/staff and there were even others I did not have time to talk to or were away at conferences. It was hard seeing how connected I was and still am at McDaniel.
In my life right now, I am living in the Netherlands (Holland) and have been there for almost a year and a half. After graduation I stayed in New York a few months and worked as a Lifeguard and Swim Instructor , and then I went to the Netherlands and worked as an Au Pair .
Working as an Au Pair really expanded my understanding of people, and different lifestyles. I have been busy taking Conflict Studies classes at Utrecht University , working at the local pool and learning to play water polo , learning a lot and remembering that my ability to understand and appreciate my classes is based on the things that I learned at McDaniel.
I miss signing ? American Sign Language is not the same as Dutch sign language (NGT). I would recommend students to connect with professors at McDaniel, the connection can always be rewarding.
Graduating from college is not easy ? your friends are not going to live in the same building as you, but remember, the learning never ends.
Editor’s Note: It is not uncommon for McDaniel alums to journey back to The Hill to visit professors and old friends. Return Visit is a column that allows these returning students to let the college community know how they are doing, what they are doing and what the college did for them.