Across the labyrinth
I wander, twist and turn.
A senior in high school,
I question what will be.
I take a tour and wonder:
“Is this the place for me?”
I take a risk. Deposit. Dive in.
I pick up an oar,
Dip my toes in the fountain,
Spend summers on OStaff,
Dancing off with first years.
Study abroad in Ireland,
But know Carroll is not far.
I dive deep into the Classics
Both ancient and of JCU.
Cafsgiving, Carroll Christmas Eve, Manresa.
I immerse myself in Chiapas,
And am broken but inspired.
Wave “hi” on walks across campus,
Pour one out at O’s,
Hear “Stay well!” from a mile away.
Dance through the night at B Side,
Gaze out the 3rd floor of the lib,
Soak up the sun on the quad,
Sit quietly in the chapel.
We laugh,
Cry
And try our best.
With lessons learned at Carroll,
We are ready to take on the rest.
Each day on campus,
I pass by Rodman Hall,
Connecting future, current and past Blue Streaks.
The labyrinth no longer seems so winding,
In these last few weeks.
It’s more than explaining O’Malley,
More than giving facts,
I share a story on tour,
Of John Carroll for me,
Of all it has in store.
Walking backward,
I wish could go back in time.
To sum it all up in a hour,
is no easy feat.
This place, these people,
Truly a phenomenon.
I sign my last postcard,
“Onward on.”