The Right Angle: Farewell, Class of '05 - Opinions
Graduation is both the worst and best time of the year for me. On one hand, I find myself being forced to let go of several friends I have made over the past three years. Sure, we say we'll keep in touch, but I remember saying the same thing at my high school graduation, and those promises are easily broken. On the other hand, I'm excited for the graduating class; they've been through a lot over the past four (five, six?) years, and they finally have a chance to take on the world armed with their new knowledge. As I sit back, staring at least another year in the face, I'm jealous of their newfound freedom.
So even though I can't give the graduating class any experienced words of wisdom about life after UNCG, I do believe I can find a few things to say that I hope you will take with you on your quickly approaching new life.
I have to start off with an excerpt from Ann Coulter's How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must): "Historically, the best way to convert liberals is to have them move out of their parents' home, get a job, and start paying taxes." While Ann and I may have our disagreements, I don't believe truer words have ever been spoken.
Now before any of you go off on a rampage about how you do indeed live on your own and pay taxes, let me just say that I applaud you, and this system obviously does not work for everyone. In fact, in some cases, it may produce the opposite effect. I had the pleasure of meeting one young man last week who adheres to the socialist platform because his Republican parents refuse to pay his way through college. Some call this rebelling; I call it a failure of our public education system.
But in all seriousness, whether this year's graduates become card-carrying Republicans or screaming anarchists is not my major concern. I just want you all to do something.
There are tons of young people that take an active part in trying to change their world for the better. And then, there are those that just don't care. You know who I'm talking about. Those are the students that never know anything at all about current events. They shrug when you ask them who they support in a national election. Of course, you're usually lucky if you can get any sort of response out of them as these types of students are usually either completely caught up in a brainless sitcom or tragically addicted to Halo. They simply are so busy that they don't have the TIME for brainless drivel like politics or business.
I've often wondered if some sort of magic happens to them once they get their degree; perhaps they suddenly take an interest in the world and set out to cure cancer to make up for all the years they wasted in front of a television screen. But I highly doubt it. I have this fear that the majority of these unmotivated students grow up to be unmotivated graduates who become the subject material for stoner movies like "Dude, Where's My Car?"
Adults are often telling me how nice it is to see young people getting involved in and caring about politics. Sadly enough, I get the feeling that many of these people have given up on my generation accomplishing anything of great importance. The stereotypical college student has taken on the form of lazy couch potato who will go to great lengths to keep from having to move an inch.
And so I bid the Class of 2005 farewell with this parting message: Society may have lowered its standards for you, but not all of us have. I know that we all have some great purpose in life, and you're probably not going to find it while watching Friends reruns. So go out there and make a difference. Cure cancer, solve world hunger, bring peace to the Middle East, anything. It would be great to see a UNCG graduate in the White House someday. I expect great things from you. Don't let me down.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
