My Last Homecoming Weekend (As A Student)

This past weekend was Homecoming Weekend at Susquehanna. During Homecoming Weekend, alumni return for the Homecoming football game, dancing, and other activities. This year I have participated in Homecoming events more than I ever have. It was also the most excited I’d been about Homecoming.

Homecoming was a much different experience for me as a senior than it was as an underclassman. As a senior, there are actually alumni I know to be excited about seeing. We had two alumni who stayed at our house this weekend, and of course, we ran into other alumni as well. We even had some alumni who were seniors  when I was a freshman stop over at our house. It’s so strange seeing them and realizing that we’re actually seniors now. When I was a freshman, seniors seemed much older and more put together than I feel I am now.

Another difference was that I actually attended the Homecoming football game. During my freshman year, I attended the first football game of the season, then left out of boredom by half-time (or maybe even before ). I hadn’t been to a game since, so I’ve been determined to go to a full football game this year. I have to admit, I failed at actually seeing the whole thing. I was a little late after grabbing lunch with one of my housemates and two alumni and then left a little early for the Homecoming parade. However, the time I was there was fun—not that I was paying attention to the game particularly well. My strategy is usually just to “Woo!” whenever other people are.

I had also never participated in the Homecoming parade before. During the Homecoming parade, different organizations have floats or walk with banners fitting the theme for the year. This year’s theme was traditions of Susquehanna University. We walk through Selinsgrove while alumni, current students, and interested community members watch. The path this year was a short one, I’m guessing because it was raining!  The rain was unfortunate considering all the hard work people put into floats and banners, but I still had fun walking behind the Religious Life Council banner. The Religious Life Council is the umbrella organization for various campus ministries and religious groups, like InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Pre-Ministry club. Our banner was decorated in the spirit of the Christmas Candlelight service, which is one of Susquehanna’s biggest traditions. Before winter break, there is a huge Christmas service at the chapel with singing and, as the name suggests, candles.  Each of us walking with the banner held a white candle that is used in the service. It was fun walking in the parade, but I wish I had been able to see all the other floats and banners.

The next big event was the Homecoming ball on Saturday night. It’s always fun to have a chance to dress up formally—especially since I did it cheaply as well; I just reused a dress I wore my sophomore year for the Alpha Phi Omega formal. The ball was also a different experience from the TRAX dances that I’m used to because alumni were there, it was in the gym, and it had a live band instead of a DJ. After the ball, TRAX hosted an after party with more dancing and breakfast foods. It was a strange experience to have bacon at TRAX around 1 a.m.—though not a bad one!

Yesterday things felt more routine. I went to church in the morning, then went to brunch with my housemates and one of our alumni friends. After, we went back to our townhouse and hung out for a while before both of the alumni staying with us headed home. The last event I went to this weekend (non-Homecoming related) was an evening Bible study at the home of my two professors.

It’s surreal to think that I’ll be an alumna the next time I attend Homecoming. I’ll be the one staying on the couch in some current student’s suite and reuniting with all my college friends. I really wish I could stay as a student longer—but I know that I’ll be so excited to be back on Susquehanna’s campus the first time I return for Homecoming. I am not sure, though, when that return will be. Next year I could be in Ireland or Scotland or England. I could be in grad school somewhere states away and not able to make it up for the weekend. Or maybe I’ll be an hour away, at home in Pennsylvania. Though I may end up a bit delayed in returning to Susquehanna, I know that I still will return (as soon as I can) —and I hope it still feels like home.