In the words of Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, The Places You’ll Go:”
“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!”
Congratulations, class of 2015! The author of your childhood wrote a book gifted to graduates across the country, and his rhyming words ring simple but true.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
Your prospects must be promising. Some of you are steering yourself to graduate school or medical school, others are entering the working world, some are completing fellowships and an unsung number of you are charting your own path, disregarding the conventions to which others adhere.
“You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.”
An estimated 40% of you are moving on to graduate studies; another 40% have accepted job or fellowship offers. Quite literally, many of you will be high-fliers: flying across the country to jobs and internships, and across oceans to research, teach and live. International students are returning to homes all over the world. Fellowship recipients are travelling to Europe, the Philippines and Malaysia.
“You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.”
Seuss doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges of leaving the happy place that is the college bubble. The very bubble that you may have railed against in your four years here—seeking off-campus coffee shops and nights out on the town as relief—is no longer a buffer between you and the big, wide world. No more will friendly librarians feed you during a rough week of finals studying. No more will you have declining dollars to call “not real money.” But, as you know, the real-world Lurches and the Slumps that result are worth it!
“With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!”
You’re armed with a degree and with knowledge, with four years of experiences at our Rochester home—four years of friendships, of hard work, of sweat (in the Periodical Reading Room), tears (from one too many hours looking at the computer screen) and bonds (of both friendship and organic chemistry). You’re ready for anything under the sky, whether it be a Rochester winter or the new trail you’re blazing.
“You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!”
Best wishes, class of 2015, from the Campus Times to you!
Remus is a member of the class of 2016.
