As graduation approaches, seniors are reminded, almost on a daily basis, that their time at school is “ending.” Almost as if they are caught in a karmic cycle, pending graduates are continuously asked the same daunting questions: “What is your plan after school ends?” “Where will you end up in the fall?” “How will you end your last semester?”
But what if the word “end” was replaced with the word “begin?” “What is your plan after you begin this new phase of your life?” “Where will you begin studying in the fall?” “How will you begin your new job/position/opportunity?”
Doesn’t that sound a bit softer? More inspiring? The word “ending” has such a harsh, lifeless tone to it. The last thing any graduate wants to hear is that the next phase in their life will be harsh and lifeless.
Graduating is seen as a rite of passage and should mark a way to begin the next phase of your life. As graduates of St. Joseph’s College, we will be prepared to take on our next adventures. Whether you have only attended St. Joe’s for one semester, or you have been enrolled throughout your entire undergraduate experience, there is no question that you have been well-equipped for your future endeavors.
The St. Joe’s faculty and staff treat every student as if they are family, ensuring we gain the wisdom we need to prepare for post-graduate life. The tight-knit community on campus is unlike any other. For these experiences alone, we should be grateful for our time at 155 W. Roe Blvd.
It is the little things we have experienced that will have the greatest impact on our future.”
Ready for What’s Next
It is through the campus community that inspiration and passion for our majors, minors, and general interests are drawn. It is without question that we have all experienced growth, change, and development throughout our time in college. This time in our lives will be marked by the people we surrounded ourselves with, the opportunities we have taken, and the life changes and lessons we have learned.
Looking back on this time, we will remember the laughs we shared during late-night study sessions, the ways in which we stressed over major assignments and exams, the times we spent grabbing lunch with friends, and the powerful discussions we had in lectures that changed our viewpoints. It is the little things we have experienced that will have the greatest impact on our future.
Instead of viewing our time on campus as “ending,” graduates should take on the perspective that things are, in fact, just beginning. Graduating is a time of joy, celebration and transition, all of which we have earned and deserve to honor. As we accept our degrees, we will step into our new roles, taking with us all that we have learned throughout these past four years. I have no doubt that as St. Joseph’s College graduates, we will have great success with everything we do.
Graduation is simply just the beginning.
