I’m leaving campus and going back home

But I know I’ll miss this place, no matter how far I roam.

I know I’ll miss the grass, so green and so trim

And all those big fountains, where I’ve always wanted to swim.

I guess I’ll miss the dorms, though my room was quite small,

But how could I forget all those water fights in the hall?

And the food down in Mac’s Place,

And the time we drew all over that one kid’s face.

And I’ll always think of how I went Greek,

Though of all our secrets, I simply cannot speak.

We all would put pins on our chest

To show them off at night, even if we had a test.

How we would buy expensive coolers for boys

And fill them with Dollar Tree toys.

I wish I could relive all those Thursday nights out

Dancing the night away to that amazing song “Shout!”

The night Giddy-Up was actually there,

Which was great, we couldn’t afford cab fare.

I’ll keep the beads I caught in La.

On the weekend that we did nothing but play.

The eight hour trip we took in the car

To get to a city that is honestly way too far.

For all the bad songs that you just can’t hate

And all the late-night Pluckers I ate.

I’ll miss the Daily Update and that little white dog,

And all those early mornings, walking through the fog.

The late nights and early mornings with the news,

When all I really wanted to do was hit snooze.

I’ll even miss those squirrels that own the grass,

The ones that practically give you the finger on the way to class.

I’ll never forget Fondren, fourth floor

Though I’ve already forgotten the classes that were a bore.

But not the annoying kid who talked too much,

Or that the guy next to me almost gave him a punch.

I’ll miss the best friends I see every day,

I wish I could take them with me, back to Tampa Bay.

For all those times that I broke down and cried,

For all those times my friends were by my side.

When I couldn’t stop thinking everything was wrong,

And my roommate would put on our favorite song.

Even those times when my grades were rough,

Even the times when college seemed too tough.

I’ll miss the friend who got me though,

And the professors who showed me what I can do.

So after four years I’ll be tossing my cap

And you can bet I’ll cry like a sap.

So SMU, you know it’s true.

The thing I’ll miss the most is you.

– Liz Ford

Managing Editor