Every Monmouth student knows the phrase “Carpe Diem”, meaning “Seize the Day”. They see it every day on campus, engraved in the underpass that connects one side of campus to the other.
If there’s another thing that Monmouth students know, it’s that their four years of college go by fast. Very fast. A mid the stress of schoolwork and busy schedules, sometimes students just need to stop and smell the roses in Wilson Hall’s Erlanger Gardens. It’s important to make memories by focusing on the little day-to-day moments on campus that we often overlook.
In fact, college memories are some of the best memories people make. There are countless opportunities for students to capture and preserve the unforgettable memories they make here at Monmouth University, their home away from home.
Scrapbooking provides the opportunity for endless creative freedom when it comes to documenting your college years. Adding pictures, stickers, and drawings spice up the pages and give them a personal touch. There are endless ways to embellish your scrapbook, whether it’s creating stunning 3D pictures or adorning each page with colorful backgrounds. Get creative with twine, glitter, acrylic paint, fabric, buttons, and ribbons—there are absolutely zero limits to what you can get crafty with.
You can document sports games, hanging out with friends on Friday nights, or even aesthetic photos of beautiful spots on campus like the fountains in Erlanger Gardens or the historic columns of Wilson Hall. If you’re a senior, you can create a timeline of photos from freshman year to your last year at Monmouth. You can also make lists of your favorite productions from Woods Theatre, the clubs you were involved in, and other Monmouth-related things that hold a special place in your heart.
Scrapbooking is a great activity to do with friends, as well. It’s like one giant souvenir of your college years, guaranteed to keep you smiling as you flip through pages and pages of magical memories. You can make a tradition of getting together with your friends every weekend to dedicate some time to scrapbooking.
Assembling a time capsule is a super fun and nostalgic way to preserve memories. You can put many different things in your capsule; movie tickets, playbills from Woods Theatre, sports memorabilia, letters from a best friend or significant other, or even a letter to your future self. If you’re a first-year student, you can make a time capsule of your entire freshman year and open it right after you graduate.
Hayley Bray, a first-year graduate student studying special education and applied behavior analysis, said that she admires the personal touch of a time capsule.
She said, “I was involved in Chabad on campus, so I would put in one of our flyers. I also personal train, so I’d put something gym-related to remember that. I’d want to put little things to remember little memories, not big ones. Because you remember the big things, but it’s those little, funny moments that you forget.”
While creating a time capsule is certainly an enjoyable and unique way to store memories, you can still appreciate your most precious Monmouth moments while you’re still a student here. Decorate your bedroom or dorm walls with pictures of friends, family, and even pets. String lights brighten up your memories and add a touch of pizzazz to your heartwarming photos.
Joe Vocaturo, a senior business management student, said that he’s planning on preserving Monmouth memories by keeping in touch with his friends well after graduation.
He said, “It helps you remember everything you did and went through together while you were in school. I’m in a fraternity, so I’d want to keep in touch with my brothers and remember all the different things we did, whether it’s community service events or just having fun together.”
Nothing is as special as the memories you make with your college friends. You share such a unique bond together, since you see and spend time with them nearly every day for four years.
You won’t regret taking the time to remember and appreciate the moments that define your college years.
Nothing says “Carpe Diem” like capturing and preserving memories that will last you a lifetime.
PHOTO COURTESY of Monmouth University
