Commencement…always seemed funny to call graduation commencement. I focused on the ending aspect, the-that-was-a-long-4-years-and-too-many-homework-assignments-thank-goodness-its-over aspect of graduation. In reality, graduation is both–a recognition of what’s been accomplished and a beginning of what’s next.
Tom Petty sings, “It’s wake up time. Time to open up your eyes…and rise…and shine.” His thoughts echo the challenge that graduation poses to its graduates–wake up, open your eyes–which is no small endeavor. Staying awake requires diligence–seeing one’s experience for what it is and challenging oneself constantly to not be fooled by what we want to believe is true. We need others around us to help us see, since we all have sharper vision for others than ourselves. (As a wise teacher said, “Our eyes face outward.”) So, to “rise…and shine” is to face the challenge of turning our eyes inward, through surrounding ourselves with people who will be courageous to tell us what we don’t want to hear and patient to work with us, until we understand their observations.
Endings are a deceptive concept, since if an end is a limit or extent, who set those limits and who says we have to abide those limits? Speed limits, yes; ends of piers, yes, we should abide–other limits are open to our willingness to challenge ourselves and courage follow our internal guide. Walking this path is a lifelong endeavor. While graduation is an ending and a beginning all in one, its also a part of our longer travels. So, relieve the pressure of having to know all the answers today and celebrate the accomplishments so far…
Congratulations to the Class of 2012!
