If I could redo the last four years, there are definitely a few things I would change. Any graduating senior who tells you differently is lying. We make mistakes, we learn from them and we continue on our journey as a work in progress.

The beauty comes, though, in the reality that everything is a work in progress with room to grow: as individuals, as institutions and as communities. The University of Alabama is no exception to this. As a whole institution, we do some things right, we do some things wrong and some things still need improvement. The same goes for the SGA, The Crimson White, Honors College, the Athletic Department and each one of us.

This seems like common sense, but the fact is that if everyone would keep this in mind when they approach an issue on campus, no matter the topic or magnitude, the benefits would be immeasurable. This realization would force individuals to humble themselves in the pursuit of knowledge, and tense campus conversations would see greater mutual understanding, more stakeholders willing to listen and less finger pointing about who is to blame for a problem.

This is in no way a defense of the deep problems we face as a campus — yes, we’ve got issues and yes, it’s necessary to help us grow — or an attack on criticism, but somewhere along the way we’ve forgotten that we’re all in this together. We’re learning and growing individually, working to progress the institutions in which we take part, and most importantly, accepting ownership in improving campus life for University of Alabama students. Common ground exists if we are willing to humble ourselves to the reality that we are all just a work in progress, individually and as a university, and with that common ground, comes the ability to move forward in a unified way.

Because I know that the university is still a work in progress like everything and everyone else, I can wholeheartedly take pride in the many things it does right. The University of Alabama is an amazing place, and I have treasured my four years as an undergraduate here.

I challenge you. The next time you find yourself eager to address a problem you see with the university, a group within it or an individual person, remember what you have in common: you’re both just a work in progress, and that’s a beautiful thing.