NewsEmily Anderson, Senior Speaker
I think we are all facing the world with a mix of boldness and
timidity. Marlboro consumed us for the last four years - we have
been uncomfortably mashed together since freshmen year and as time
went by the temperature rose. We outgrew the available space but
could not squeeze ourselves out and away. Today we are being spat
out onto what we like to call the real world. Pack up and get out
by 4:00. Marlboro is already our past and I think most of us are
more then ready for that. We have all changed, not necessarily because
of Marlboro time is the real culprit. We isolated ourselves here,
allowed ourselves time to delve into our own mundane worlds and
it drove most of us nuts.
However, many events this year have shown us that we are held accountable,
not just as individuals in our everyday life but also as a part
of a larger group regardless of whether or not we support it. We
must turn our over-stimulated minds onto the world and see ourselves
as a nation whether we like it or not. It is intimidating to realize
that we are responsible for our fellow Americans rather than just
the people of the Marlboro Community. We will be held accountable
for actions that are out of our control; we will be recognized in
history for things we know nothing of. Do not let yourself become
comfortable or absorbed the way we have been here; our comfort let
us stand by during a Presidential coup, our absorption let us stand
down as we attacked Afghanistan. Every day, people become hungrier
and poorer, corporations get larger, forests are broken down, and
more babies are born.
My friend and classmate Aaron said recently in passing that he
wasn't sure if he should be studying law or learning to make fishing
poles or fires or shoes, something like that that would teach him
to survive. But desperation will be a great teacher; it is the ease
of our world that will kill us. As we do, generations before us
saw themselves as the pinnacle of change, the ones who would go
forth and change the world, would really make a difference. Like
them we do not see life as easy, every person has their own difficulties
and their own achievements. People like Melanie who successfully
combined a full time job, motherhood and plan work, and Thomas whose
artwork touched us all, graduate with us despite all the hardship
thrown in their way. Today we are sharing an achievement. We did
something great and definitely worthwhile. Now we can take the dedication
and passion we put into our plans and direct it towards all of our
future endeavors. 2002 - so many dynamos.
