Everyone always talks about how precious the four years of college are, and truly, how quickly they fly by. While day-to-day campus life can feel so long — hours stretched with worries, studying and activities — it can be easy to lose track of the weeks. In a blink, we are already writing March on our calendars when it feels like January was just yesterday. Thus, it’s important to take advantage of our time here at Colgate University and in Hamilton itself and use the opportunities available to explore and experience all that this campus and community have to offer.
On campus, Colgate offers numerous events to allow students to immerse themselves in new subjects and ideas. One of these opportunities includes the large number of speakers brought onto campus each week. First-year Rachel Gellman spoke more about this opportunity for students.
“My dad was a graduate at Colgate, and he recommended that I make the time to go to the speaker events because you can always learn something new from those who have more experience in their fields and in life,” Gellman said.
Colgate hosts numerous speaker series, from the Global Leaders Series to the Presidential Speaker Series, which both host renowned experts who unpack global issues. On a more personal level, the Passion Project Series, hosted by the Dart Colgrove Commons, brings in Colgate professors to share what they are passionate about with students. Other speakers are invited by clubs and organizations on campus, including the recent guest speaker Bethany Hamilton, who visited on Sunday, March 8 and was hosted by the University Church to share her experience of resilience.
Through this variety of speaker events, a diverse number of subjects, passions and experiences are shared with the Colgate community, strengthening the Colgate connection among professors, students and experts. This is definitely an opportunity that should be seized by students, as there is always something new to learn.
In addition to events on campus, senior Ellie Campbell also discussed activities to take advantage of in Colgate and around the area.
“I’d say that every Colgate student should try food from all the places in town and explore Cazenovia, especially in the summer,” Campbell said. “I am still hoping to take advantage of some of the free workout classes and go back to the Adirondacks before I graduate.”
While visibly small, Hamilton holds a wide variety of cuisines, from the Copper Cricket Diner to Friends and Pho. Two new restaurants have recently opened, including Brine & Stave and Tacos + Tequila. Flour and Salt and Fojo Beans are also great coffee shop options for weekend lock-ins and delicious breakfast foods. Overall, the town of Hamilton is definitely worth checking out, especially as Hamilton serves as the extension of our Colgate community.
Outside of Hamilton, the town of Cazenovia is only a 30-minute drive away, and is a cute area to spend the day exploring the shops and Cazenovia Lake. In the fall, Cazenovia Lake is an active location for students who are part of the Sailing Club, providing a cool opportunity to check out to learn a new skill.
In addition, a positive to Colgate’s location is its proximity to the Adirondack mountains, which are less than two hours away. Crane Mountain and Bald Mountain are only some popular locations with hiking trails that aren’t too difficult. Especially during peak fall foliage season, the hikes provide gorgeous views of New York State.
Outside of advice given by fellow students, Assistant Dean for Administrative Advising Lisa Stewart also provided programs to look out for while at Colgate.
“There are quite a few different programs and opportunities to get funded for research as an undergraduate, as well as to collaborate with faculty on the research they are currently working on,” Stewart said. “There are a high number of students who stay on campus in the summer, or travel domestically or internationally, for research.”
Colgate’s small size allows undergraduates to have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the research community. Research programs range from the natural sciences to the humanities to the arts. Students have the ability to stay on campus for summer research and field work, or work on research projects throughout the semester.
Overall, Colgate University holds so many opportunities for students to engage with their community, both on and off campus, in a classroom and out in the mountains. Time truly does move quickly, making it important to soak up every moment and experience that allows us to grow as students and people, equipped to face the world beyond ’Gate.
