Friends that became family. Professors that turned into mentors. An academic interest that morphed into a passion.  

As Franklin & Marshall seniors embarked on their final winter break, they shared the things they’ll miss most about their time on campus – and gave advice for incoming students, too. 

Sam Smith ’25

• Hometown: Philadelphia
• Major: Computer science
• Minor: Area studies

What will you miss most about your time at F&M?

One of the things I'll miss the most about Franklin and Marshall is just the sense of community I got from being here. It's a really small campus, so I felt like I could be really involved with many people no matter what club they were in or program they were in as well. I just felt really close with many of the people here.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Join as many clubs and try as many things as possible when you join. You never know what you're going to like when you first enter, and you may find a community you really enjoy spending time with where you least expected it.

Ada Ojukwu ’25

• Hometown: Livingston, N.J., and Nigeria
• Major: Biology
• Minors: Chemistry, English

What will you miss most about your time at F&M?

I’m definitely going to miss my friends, but I'm also really going to miss my professors a lot. Franklin & Marshall professors are really, really supportive and it's great to have people that make students feel comfortable and make us feel like we can do anything. We can ask them any questions. I'm really gonna miss them.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

For incoming students, they should try their hardest to explore as many things as possible. I came in thinking, “I'm going to be a biology major. I'll take some classes in creative writing.” But then I really enjoyed chemistry, so I picked up a minor. I didn't expect that.

Oscar Horowitz ’25

• Hometown: Glen Rock, N.J.
• Joint major: Business and history
• Minor: Economics

What will you miss most about your time at F&M?

Definitely the people. All of the friends and family that I've made.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Get out there. Take as many new classes as you can. Come figure out what it is that you love.

Fiorella Comparini Donoso ’25

• Hometown: Miami
• Major: Special studies in science writing (creative writing, astronomy, studio art) 

What will you miss most about your time at F&M?

The thing I'll miss most is the community – especially on a spring day, walking down on Hartman Green and seeing all your people, hearing them yell your name. It’s the community aspect of it, the everyday passing. 

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Do one really out of character thing a year and it’ll change your college experience. I joined a sorority.. it was not something very in character for me. But it pushed me out of my comfort zone and introduced me to people I don't think I ever would have met otherwise. 

Opeyemi Olarogba '25 

• Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
• Major: Anthropology

What will you miss most about your time at F&M?

The community I've been a part of here. I was a part of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. It's just been a wonderful place to be a part of and also serve in leadership. 

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Take your time to discover what you want to do. College is a time where you are looking to find out what your skills are and how you’re going to best apply that in a real-world setting. College is also a microcosm of the real world, so it's a perfect opportunity to learn about your new skills and develop existing skills and apply them in various ways. Find your niche, find what you're good at, find a community for it and get into it! 

Patrick Toft  '25 

• Major: Economics
• Hometown: Moorestown, N.J. 

What will you miss most about your time at F&M?

The friends that I made here and the experiences with professors and classes. 

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Take advantage of everything you can at the college. Do everything!