Letter from the Editor: Graduation Salutation

Hello Tartans, as this semester comes to an end, we wave goodbye to old friends and hello to new beginnings. While excitement is in the air, there is a melancholic feeling that comes to me as I look back on all the wonderful people I have met and that now must leave. 

We are pushed to reflect on the outcome of our semester. It is often too easy to eschew the well-wishes and congratulations of our peers for a more cynical disposition. However, it is vital to recognize the accomplishments of this semester. I believe that while we must always move forward, we will never know how far we have made it without reflection. 

For me, this semester has been more challenging than any other so far. This is because my schedule has been very hectic. With a new job and classes that require more focus and devotion than previous ones, I have had to put intense emphasis on time management. As someone who is a habitual procrastinator, this has been a challenge all on its own.

Though I know I did not perform to the best of my abilities for some classes, I still am proud of the end result of this term. I passed all of my classes, my job is going smooth, and here soon, I will finally be free to enjoy this summer with family and friends.

I am sure many can relate to the overwhelming sensation that school brings. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to interview some students here on campus. When asked about how they balance school with their social life, many said they forgo their social life all together. Through relatable laughter we agreed that sometimes there is simply no other option when one is a full-time student and also working a job. 

However, when the finish line is still a way off, it is easy to question whether or not this is really worth it. As an unconventional student, having worked for several years before coming back to school, I see friends who did not go to school that make great money with no debt. I see them buy houses and start families, and naturally I question my own choices. 

Then comes the bittersweet realization that when I was working and not coming to school, all I did was question those choices. It is too easy to look over the fence at what seems like greener grass. Buyer’s remorse is a phenomenon that is all too common, especially when it feels like life is only getting harder and never easier. 

This time around, though, I did not jump ship. I stayed and put my nose to the grindstone. I have pushed through the hardships, late-night study sessions and early morning exams. I have been rewarded for this work with a new sense of pride and understanding of my direction.

The epiphany that it is specifically these hardships that afford us the ability to have a sense of pride and accomplishment is no longer lost to me. 

Countless students and friends will be graduating this May. They have pushed through the most challenging of hardships and now, like me, they will be rewarded with the sweetest of achievements. In their accomplishments, I find my own encouragement to keep pushing.

Life will not always be kind, nor should it be. If everything was easy then the value of trying and achieving would be lost entirely. The old adage that the darkest nights always break and the sun rises again is overused for a reason: It is true. 

Full of lessons learned and endless potential, these graduates will pursue dreams, find their place and make their mark on this world. We who remain should wave them goodbye, gleefully and continue to dream of the day when it is our turn to cross the stage. Ambition will carry us through the night and success is awaiting us at daybreak. 

Congratulations to all the students graduating this May. They leave us a well-set example of how to push, how to struggle through, how to be tenacious, and how to succeed. I will gladly follow in their footsteps and enjoy the green grass I find myself in.

Noah Schlarman, Executive Editor

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