A spur-of-the-moment picnic on the ABF lawn. The first time you meet your new friends at AUBG. Insightful lectures with inspiring professors. These moments may seem small, but they’re the ones that weave memories, experiences, and most importantly, friendships.
These seniors graduating in 2025 reflect on their time at AUBG only moments before they put on their gowns and say goodbye to four years of university life. Even though they will venture into new experiences, these memories from AUBG will remain, and they will continue being a part of the university history.
Owen Kemerer, USA
One of my favorite moments at AUBG was during the fall semester of my senior year. I had the opportunity to take a trip to Brussels as part of a European Studies class. I was standing waiting for the metro talking to some friends from Ukraine and Bulgaria. In that moment I realized how surreal my whole experience at AUBG has been. I am an American who has been lucky enough to live on another continent for four years and meet people from all over the world.
Lilia Petrova, Bulgaria
My four years at AUBG were filled with some of the most incredible and memorable experiences of my whole life. But I feel like nothing tops Orientation Week – the excitement of meeting so many incredible people made everything feel new and special and that week introduced me to friends who stayed by my side throughout the whole journey.
One core memory is my friend Vili’s birthday picnic on September 20, 2021, on the BAC lawn. It was simple, yet the people there became my closest friends. We jokingly started calling our friend group “Bubli” after Niko (the guy on the far left of the picture), who couldn’t recall the Bulgarian word for bubbles and said “Bubli” instead. The name stuck, much like our friendship did. I’m beyond grateful for these people – they are my AUBG.
Elio Pujo, Albania
One of my favorite moments at AUBG by far was orientation week. I found all the activities we did great, as they allowed me to get to know people from my class whom I might not have gotten to know otherwise. These activities helped us bond over shared interests in music, food, and hobbies, making the experience memorable and meaningful as we formed friendships that lasted throughout our time at AUBG. The blanket party was the highlight of the week, with everyone moving from blanket to blanket, introducing themselves to those they hadn’t yet met. A special memory I cherish is when we all came together at the end to dance to folklore songs from Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, and beyond.
Boryana Simeonova, Bulgaria
A moment for me was the four-year journey at AUBG. Time flew by, as I was rushing to Main Building, going to club meetings, RA duties. Now I sit alone in my Skapto room, looking back and realising: “God, it’s over.” My favourite moment at AUBG is AUBG.
Aprajita Jayaram, India
One of my favourite parts about my AUBG experience is the opportunity to explore and express myself through theater. Although neither of my majors are related to performance art, the AUBG stage has become my second home. From musicals to plays, I have spent countless hours in that theater, and I will cherish every second of it – the giggles when we break character, the tears when we’re frustrated, the magic when we perform. Not to mention the life-long friends I have made through this community – Broadway Performance Club will forever be my family away from home.
Vasilena Tsutsumanova, Bulgaria
It was my 19th birthday, and I wasn’t particularly excited about it, as it was the first time I was celebrating away from my family and high school friends. On top of that, it was during COVID, and I wasn’t able to gather with the friends I had made here to celebrate.
That evening, my roommate called and asked me to bring her a mask so she could re-enter Skapto, as we weren’t allowed inside the dorm hallways without one. When I stepped outside, I was completely surprised – my entire friend group was waiting with a cake, flowers, and a little heart-shaped necklace that I still wear to this day because it holds such a precious memory.
This gesture meant a lot to me. I hadn’t known these people for long, yet they made me feel appreciated and happy to be here. That night reminded me how important it is to open up, meet new people, and build new connections. It was one of many warm moments – and little did I know then just how many more were waiting for me before I graduate.
Rati Sirabidze, Georgia
My favorite moment at AUBG? The question brings me a pile of memories from which I need to cherrypick one. Whether it was a class with my ever-favorite professor [Jason] Murphy, a random extended Sunday meeting at my second home Radio AURA, lengthy yet meaningful discussions with Dean [Sabina] Wien, a late-night conversation slowly turning into a therapy session with a friend at the ABF cafè or a Skapto balcony – it all circles back to people. My friends who have stayed alongside me over the past four years, the professors, especially within my majors, frustrated café ladies, the retrospective walls of Main Building – all helped me collect the stories that matter.
Nikolay Pavlov, Bulgaria
It was during my first year of Olympics as a freshman, and my birthday had passed over the weekend. Upon returning to our club’s weekly meeting, I was caught by surprise and got a cake smashed in my face. I was very shocked as to what was happening, but afterwards when everyone starting singing and laughing, I finally understood. Ever since that day, I always made sure that for the years to come, I would do my best to avoid getting caught by surprise, but each year I failed.
Viktoria Bozhinova, Bulgaria
Honestly, being president of More Honors has been the highlight of my time at AUBG. That club became my second home – I spent all four years with it, and I’ve grown so much because of it. Leading it pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me things no lecture ever could: how to lead with purpose, build community, and stay grounded. It wasn’t always easy, but it was always worth it. Looking back, most of my best memories here are tied to More Honors, and now I’m walking away a very proud alum with a full heart.
Dua Zhjeqi, Kosovo
My favorite moment at AUBG remains the All Campus Picnic in September. Before the beginning of every year, we gathered on the big lawn to have fun and catch up on each other’s summer stories – which were always interesting to hear. “How was your summer?” was always a great conversation starter, which built everlasting friendships that will continue after AUBG.
Dimitar Slavov, Bulgaria
A moment I’ll never forget is one which happened during a lecture with one of my favorite professors – Prof. Lucia Lopez Vazquez. She said it was important for us to dare to try new things, and the context was that in a sea of great people, you have to be great in a different way than they are. The reason: so you are remembered with more than simply being great in the common, “usual” way. This piece of advice forever changed my perspective on what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it, and I’m forever grateful for this moment.
William Haslam, USA
But one of my favorite moments at AUBG was the round table event about the Israel Palestine conflict in late 2023. I loved the spirit of open dialogue and I loved how much everyone was invested and educated on an important event.
