University of New Hampshire Bids Class of '08 Farewell
In Durham this last weekend, nearly two thousand hopeful young men and women walked onto a field as students and left two hours later as alumni. The graduating class of 2008 from the University of New Hampshire was given a sunny day (not common at UNH ceremonies) to celebrate and to turn funny tassels on a funny hat from one side to the other. Four (maybe five) years of learning concluded on a hot AstroTurf-covered Memorial Field. Now they all face either more years of school or the workforce.
The keynote speaker this year was Michael Brown, the CEO and co-founder of the volunteer program City Year. He had edged out David Letterman for the honors of being the featured speaker. In what was the final lecture for many of these students, this guest professor’s lesson for the day centered around idealism.
“Idealism is incredibly practical. It's about seeing things as they are, imagining things as they could be, and taking real and practical steps to turn what is into what could and should be. I urge you to lead an idealistic life. Work to make things better... The key is to incorporate an idealistic spirit into your life at every stage. Believe that change is possible, and work toward it,” Brown told the graduates.
After the mass ceremony the crowd of fresh alumni posed for photographs with friends and family members before deserting the town for a celebratory lunch and their futures. In their arms they held not a diploma, but a folder into which they will at some point in the near future fill with a certificate that will come by way of the postman. Inside the folder for the time being was only an ornate IOU from the university registrar.
What plans do these grads have? Some have jobs lined up, some have vacations lined up, some have more school, and some are caught in the limbo. With the economy in a slump, this class might be a bit more nervous than most. Many are hopeful that the stimulus plan and summer weather will revive the job market and the economy. The shining sun over the ceremony was a good omen.
Liam O’Donnell, a biology major, is heading to Utah to ski and be a brewer at a microbrewery. “I’m packing my car up and heading cross country,” he said. “I’ve been in New England all my life and I need a change. I’ve got a good buddy out there who I visited this winter and I decided that Utah is where I’m going. Skiing, making good beer, great biking, what could be better? No desk job for me, not yet anyway.”
There were others in the crowd that said they were off to work at investment firms, at engineering companies, and all sorts of various sectors in the economy. Plans or not, everyone was proud of these young graduates. These students worked hard to get where they are. Parents were gleaming with joy and just about all the students are itching to get out Durham to try the real world out. No more food from Holloway Dining Hall, no more late night cramming, no more mandatory floor meetings, no more of any of that. Now only opportunity and new adventures wait for us.
As a graduating senior from UNH myself (I'm the one on the right in the photo), I’m excited. It’s scary, but I’m ready. We’re all ready. I don’t really remember too much of the speeches, I don’t think that’s what we were there for. What I’ll remember are the things I learned, the friends I made, what it took for me to be here, and how lucky I am. Cheers to the class of 2008. Cheers to what we will become and cheers to what we won’t let ourselves become.