The Bittersweet Feeling of Leaving the University of Nevada and Reno Behind
Graduation season is upon us, and you can expect seniors to be going through all the emotions right now. For many at the University of Nevada, Reno, it’s not just their last semester on campus, it may be their last time in Reno as well.
Graduation festivities will soon be kicking off and this will be a time of celebration, memories, and growth into adulthood.
The class of 2026 mostly started in the fall of 2022 and during that time, it was the first class to live in Argenta Hall after a failure in the boiler room there caused a damaging explosion in 2019.
For many students in this class it’s the little and the big things that they will miss the most. Post college life is completely different than your college life. Responsibilities and priorities will become much different.
Recent graduates can attest to that.
"Being able to see my close friends almost daily with ease is something I miss the most,” Sahan Bandara who graduated during the winter of 2024 says.
Bandara misses the UNR campus, from the gym to the library, and campus life. “Once you grow up your life can revolve around schedules and you can go a while without seeing your friends because it's hard to align schedules but in college you can text your friend and meet up for a coffee for like 20 minutes and then walk to class together,“ Bandara explained.
Ava Kontaxis is a current student at UNR graduating soon who says she’ll miss the overall experience and opportunities the most.
“What I’m going to miss about UNR is the friends I’ve made, the beautiful campus, and great opportunities that UNR has presented to me. I will never forget it and UNR will forever hold a place in my heart,” Kontaxis said.
Meanwhile some students like Oscar Martinez will miss small things like restaurants and places to visit on campus.
“I think it would have to be Las Trojes, in the Ansari building. They make amazing burritos and their fruits are always fresh,” Martinez said, when asked about what he would miss the most about UNR.
College life coming to an end is a sad time for students, and it can be hard to say goodbye to the life you’ve built in college. For recent grad Aditya Prathap he has his own life now but misses the freedom of being a student.
“At school I could step out for a walk or go to get snacks at 1 a.m. The nature in Reno … being right next to the mountains, being able to experience the snow was also a huge plus,” he reminisces.
Everyone learns to move on after college, and leaving a diverse and established school like the University of Nevada, Reno can be tough for students. During this time of year, seniors eagerly await their next adventures while leaving a piece of themselves behind on the Nevada campus.
Reporting, writing and photos by Jake Santiago pictured in center above.
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