My sister graduated from high school on Saturday, and, of course, I trekked back up to Fort Wayne to view it. I arrived about ten minutes before the ceremony, thus eliminating any chance I had of getting cake.
And boy, did I want some cake.
I sat through the speeches. This year, the valedictorian of a very prominent Fort Wayne school gave a speech on irony. Unfortunately, he didn't know the definition of the word irony. Thus making the speech very ironic. But not really.
But that wasn't what bugged me. What bugs me are those boring speeches about hope and the future. I've come to one conclusion: They have no idea what's ahead of them.
Oh sure, they're ready for college, they're not stupid. They just don't have the ability to tell others what to expect. Their optimism, which I recall my friends having, is foolish, can caused some problems with adjustments.
College is a time to discover, to learn, and it is a great journey, but it's far from an interesting quest into strange and wonderful places. College is more of a journey of self-discovery, of learning what you want to do with your life.
But it's hardly a world away from high school. It's the same thing with different manifestations.
There are also quotations from politicians, philosophers, and authors. But, as a wise English teacher I had once said, "Quotations are a way not-so-smart people cover their lack of knowledge in order to appear smart."
Someone will invariably read from a children story. Sometimes they will read the entire thing. "Oh, the Places You'll Go" is a popular choice.
I'll be blunt. The place is Muncie. The things are an awkwardly-placed bell tower and a lonely, musky, forgotten student center. I have my own version of the Dr. Seuss classic that defines the college experience better.
Oh, the naps you'll take!
There are dreams to debunk!
There are papers to make.
There is beer to be drunk!
And then plenty of things to do with a car
If it wasn't parked away, so far, so, so, so far
Bored! You'll be as bored as bored can be,
You can sit on your butt and watch more TV
In finals you can't
But that'd be a rant
I'm afraid that sometimes
You'll do some work too.
Work that's not work
'Cause they won't ever pay you.
Unfortunately, these incoming freshmen have no experience with the future and therefore cannot speak well on the topic. But that won't stop them from trying.
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