Adios Señor Senior
—Interview with a Graduating Senior
by Jason Baird

Q. Introduce yourself. What is your name, major, and favorite novel?
A. I’m Josh Benson, English major and my favorite novel is… well… I love so many and for so many different reasons.

Q. How do you feel as the semester comes to an end?
A. It has been a rough semester. I had to take a lot of “loose-ends” classes to finish up my degree. I still have an awful lot of papers to write, but once it ends, I’m sure I’ll feel great about it!

Q. What are you going to do after graduation?
A. Have a party to celebrate.

Q. Has the process and experience of getting your Bachelors degree helped you advance toward where you want to be in the future?
A. The process of getting my degree has helped me pinpoint what I am capable of doing, and at the same time, puts me in contact with people who have similar goals. It has also taught me how to interact socially, both professionally and casually, and has given me some of the best memories that people hope to acquire.

Q. Who has been the greatest influence on you in chasing your dreams both personally and academically?
A. It wasn’t a single person. Actually, it is a combination of all the people that I have met along the way. It seemed for a while my networks were constantly changing, but eventually the same people kept coming back until I had a solid group of friends/colleagues who I enjoy interacting with.

Q. What is next for Josh Benson?
A. With luck, I will have a relaxing summer with my friends. I plan to enjoy the comforts of a typical American summer: lakes, fishing, beaches, road trips, etc, and at the same time, work on my skills as a writer and prepare for Grad school here at CMU in the fall. I am also planning on starting my first novel.

Q. If you could live the life of any animal, which one would it be and why?
A. I want to be Dixie, my neighbor’s yellow lab. She is 10 months old and is a spoiled little brat. She has a cute face and always looks happy. I don’t know… the life of a well-loved yellow lab sounds pretty magical to me.

Q. Do you see any major changes on the horizon between pre-Bachelor’s and post-Bachelors?
A. Maybe I’ll find someone and get married. But chances are I will end up changing my mind over the next 20 years what I really want to do and then realize that I’ve been doing it for the past 10.