Good afternoon, everyone!
Several years ago, our class arrived full of nerves and excitement, and the delusion that we would never pull an all-nighter to write a 10-page paper. Now here we are, moments away from graduating, held together by way too much caffeine, catnaps between class, and, if you’re anything like me, an absurd number of hours watching sitcoms.
Sitcoms weren’t just background noise after long days of studying in the library – they were a significant part of our college experience. They became our comfort, our escape, and sometimes our motivation to keep trucking through. Most importantly, they gave us a way to bond with our people.
The loft crew in New Girl taught us that even the weirdest, most chaotic friendships can turn into something that feels like home. The Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch showed us how to embrace the chaos in order to make our weeks bearable, even when the Wi-Fi crashes or the printers decide not to work for the hundredth time. And at times, I’m sure we all had a That ‘70s Show-style basement hangout – perhaps not in a literal basement, but in that one dorm room that everyone subconsciously deemed the community hangout spot, where people showed up unannounced and stayed way too late.
Laughter is the best medicine – second to sleep, of course. I know for a fact that we’ve all had at least one moment where we wanted to pull a Michael Scott and yell “I am running away from my responsibilities! And it feels good!” Whether it’s cracking up over a quote, a favorite scene, or a perfectly timed joke, laughter has kept our gears turning and helped us survive undergrad. During these stressful four years, laughter bonded us together, lifted us up, and at times, was the only thing standing between us and full-blown meltdown.
We’ve had exams that felt like Community’s paintball episodes and countless moments worthy of our own imaginary camera zoom-ins, complete with dramatic music. We’ve had group projects that mirrored the 99th precinct of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, where one person does all the work, another completely disappears, and another channels Jake Peralta, exclaiming “Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, no doubt, no doubt, no doubt,” while actively spiraling. And in order to survive this excruciatingly long last semester, many of us channeled our inner Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation, powering through with just sheer willpower – okay, and maybe a few muffins from the café.
Sitcoms weren’t just there for comic relief; they taught us lessons in ways that our lectures couldn’t. We all share the experience of trying (and failing) to be fully functioning adults, and sitcoms reminded us that failure isn’t ‘the end’ of our story. It’s an inevitable part of life, and sometimes things won’t go according to plan, at all. I’m sure many of you made the scary decisions to change your major or quit a sports team, unsure of your future. However, like Ted Mosby once said, “If you’re not scared, you’re not taking a chance. And if you’re not taking a chance, what the heck are you doing?” Our moments of uncertainty or fear are where we found growth, and where we began shaping our futures.
Lastly, there’s the importance of friendship, because if sitcoms taught us anything, it’s that life isn’t about pushing through it alone. Whether your group has the chosen family dynamic of Abbott Elementary, the beautiful madness of Modern Family, or the unwavering bonds of Friends crew, these stories reflected our own. College wasn’t all about grades; it was about the people who have stuck by our sides through every high and low, the ones who have seen our worst and continue to support us through every step of the way. Just like the Superstore crew, we became an inseparable family. We, too, have built connections that will last far beyond our time here. These friendships, filled with inside jokes, late-night venting sessions, and way too many pints of Pitstop ice cream, are what truly defined our college years.
We had our pilot episode – freshman year, awkward, full of potential, and most definitely cringeworthy. There’s been filler episodes – full of late-night Sheetz runs, last minute studying, and moments of pure chaos. There were specials, plot twists, betrayals, and a couple of near cancellations here and there, but we did it! We made it to our season finale.
In the wise words of Eleanor Shellstrop, “What’s the point of living if you’re not trying to get better at it?” So, as we go our opposite directions, let’s continue to be the best versions of ourselves – preferably with lots of laughter and many reruns of the same shows that got us through this journey.
But who knows? Maybe this isn’t the finale after all. Maybe we’re just gearing up for an epic spin-off.
Congratulations, Class of 2025! We did it – no laugh track required!