Class of 2013, Raise Your Glass...

As an educator, I measure time according to the college lifecycle. The terms semester, break and exams remain as present in my lexicon as they were 15 years ago. Each year, I grow older, yet my charges remain stuck in time, forever 18-22. You see, when this college thing works as it should, students eventually graduate...hopefully in 4 years, maybe 5 years time (no shame, victory lappers). And for me, there's something incredibly satisfying in shepherding a student from orientation to graduation. You are optimally positioned to witness the growth, achievements, and victories of the students you have grown to know and love...which makes these final days of the academic year a touch bittersweet.

Last October, I departed my professional home of 6 years to become the Dean of Students at Birmingham-Southern College. It's been a wonderfully fulfilling transition, and I have enjoyed celebrating the senior traditions on my new campus--Bell Ringing on the last day of class, the Senior Party on the Quad, the Capping Ceremony, and Graduation by the lake. 

But I can't help but think of those I left behind--those at Trinity whom I had the privilege of connecting with on a daily basis for 3+ years, and when I think of them, it forces me to acknowledge that I'm missing out on my favorite part of their educational journey.

At Trinity there's a tradition called The Last Great Reception in which a faculty member offers a toast to the graduating class. It's a powerful, touching, and slightly rowdy tradition (that's what happens when you give parents of graduating seniors booze apparently), but it's made me reflect on what I would say to Class of 2013 if I had my time at the podium.  

So instead of a mic, I have my blog, and from my luminescent podium, I have some things to share with you, the Class of 2013--those I have grown to love in my new role and those I will forever hold dear even though I am no longer present in their daily lives.

Some of my words will be practical and some philosophical, but all of them are heartfelt:

1. You...are...precious. I don't mean that in a condescending, creepy Uncle Ben, everybody gets a trophy kind of way. I mean that in the "you are a gift to this world, don't let anyone tell you otherwise" kind of way. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and acknowledge your awesomeness. Abandon those who make you feel less for embracing your, well, you-ness. Tell that self-defeating voice in your head to stuff it. Replace that voice with mine, and you'll know that you are cherished by many.

2. You...are...fallible. What?! Seems a bit contradictory juxtaposed to my last statement. It's not. Mistakes don't make a person any less worthy of appreciation and respect. Own your mistakes, learn from them, and help them make you an even better version of yourself. When I am at my strongest and most confident, I have great comfort in acknowledging my faults, and quite frankly, I like the flawed version of myself much better than the mask of perfection I sometimes try to hide behind.

3. Love and be loved by a partner who makes you whole, but also, makes you someone who can stand alone. Wow, another contradiction! I say, nay, my friends...or maybe it's just that love is the perfect contradiction. My wife and I value our independence, and yet we enjoy life much better as a pair. We allow each other to be our authentic selves even when that authenticity creates conflict. We compromise daily without compromising ourselves. And the end result? A blessed union that is my greatest source of strength. I hope that you find your own perfect contradiction in time.

4. Live your passion. I say two things to every incoming class. One, you have the potential to be world-changers in ways both big and small. Two, "Figure out what you care about and live a life that shows it" (John Hoyt). Okay, I also say, "Claim your education," but I digress. As you graduate, I reiterate these statements again, and I hope you find a way to take your knowledge, tools, and talents to engage in truly fulfilling work. I was blessed to find that in my work with you, and it is work I was born to do.

5. Contribute to the dialogue; not the cacophony. As of late, it appears that we have elected to eschew intellectual discourse for commentary that preys upon our basest fears...reduced to meme form. We live in a complex world with complex problems, and we owe it to each other to educate ourselves, seek out alternative perspectives, and find solutions based in reality rather screaming from the sidelines of the far left or far right. That, my friends, is a claimed education.

It's been a blessing to be a part of the last few years of your life, but I can take little credit in the people you've become. I was simply a witness to it, and as one who really paid attention, know that you have much to be proud of on this day before your special day. You have grown into the world-changers I knew you would become.

So as your time here comes to a close and you step onto a different, far bigger stage, know that I remain in the audience, still in awe of your talents, and cheering you on just as I've always been.

Cheers, Class of 2013. Your time has come.