Not another obligatory senior advice column
Alexander Richards
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Opinions
As I sit here on Miller Lawn, basking in the unseasonably warm 80 degree weather, I am struggling to find the words for my final opinions piece. Though my official role at the Echo is editing the News section, the opinion page has always held a special place in my heart. It's one of the few places where a self-confessed dork such as myself can ramble on for hundreds of words about whatever he wants-and then have it legitimized by the magic of the printing press.
So should I use this final printed space to ramble on about politics? The College? Life, liberty and/or the pursuit of happiness? I don't think so. Instead, I'm going to share some unconventional wisdom that seems nothing less than absolutely appropriate on such a gorgeous, lackadaisical day.
As a Head Resident and a sibling of college and high school graduates, I have heard a lot of graduation speeches in my day. Most all of them have been elegant and thoroughly saturated with sound advice and solid knowledge. But I think for every piece of advice-be it "follow your dreams" or "this is the first day of the rest of your life"-there are parallel ones that are admittedly less pleasing to the ears of tuition-paying parents, but nonetheless worthy of consideration. With that in mind, I dedicate this piece first and foremost to those not graduating this year.
First, let's address the old adage "follow your dreams." This is great advice if you know what those dreams are. I for one don't. At different stages of my life, I thought I did, but my experience at Colby has opened my eyes to so many things that I find myself left unsure about where I want to go.
Now I don't mean this to have completely negative connotations. The last four years have exposed me to so many new lifestyles, careers, opportunities and possibilities that to pick just one at this point would be to sabotage my own personal development. Instead, I'm going to take a page out of the late Mitch Hedberg's book. The comic once eloquently said, "I'm tired of chasing my dreams, I'm just gonna find out where they're going, and catch up with them later." This is not to say that I'm giving up and settling for a life of complacency. I'm simply going to keep track of each one of my potential dreams, explore each of them a bit, and then chase down the ones that end up being right for me. Because when it comes down to it, the only thing I can imagine as worse than not achieving your dreams, is spending a lifetime pursuing one, catching it, and realizing you chose the wrong dream.
So should I use this final printed space to ramble on about politics? The College? Life, liberty and/or the pursuit of happiness? I don't think so. Instead, I'm going to share some unconventional wisdom that seems nothing less than absolutely appropriate on such a gorgeous, lackadaisical day.
As a Head Resident and a sibling of college and high school graduates, I have heard a lot of graduation speeches in my day. Most all of them have been elegant and thoroughly saturated with sound advice and solid knowledge. But I think for every piece of advice-be it "follow your dreams" or "this is the first day of the rest of your life"-there are parallel ones that are admittedly less pleasing to the ears of tuition-paying parents, but nonetheless worthy of consideration. With that in mind, I dedicate this piece first and foremost to those not graduating this year.
First, let's address the old adage "follow your dreams." This is great advice if you know what those dreams are. I for one don't. At different stages of my life, I thought I did, but my experience at Colby has opened my eyes to so many things that I find myself left unsure about where I want to go.
Now I don't mean this to have completely negative connotations. The last four years have exposed me to so many new lifestyles, careers, opportunities and possibilities that to pick just one at this point would be to sabotage my own personal development. Instead, I'm going to take a page out of the late Mitch Hedberg's book. The comic once eloquently said, "I'm tired of chasing my dreams, I'm just gonna find out where they're going, and catch up with them later." This is not to say that I'm giving up and settling for a life of complacency. I'm simply going to keep track of each one of my potential dreams, explore each of them a bit, and then chase down the ones that end up being right for me. Because when it comes down to it, the only thing I can imagine as worse than not achieving your dreams, is spending a lifetime pursuing one, catching it, and realizing you chose the wrong dream.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
esther bushell
posted 5/03/09 @ 11:49 AM EST
Alex,
I think that you should be Colby's commencement speaker. Were you that balanced and wise in your senior year at GHS? You and Colby were obviously good for each other. (Continued…)
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