Looking ahead
Neil Patel
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: Forum
I was admitted to Washington University off the wait-list on the last day of high school classes. By that point, I had already sent in my housing deposit to the University of Florida and was ready to order my Gator apparel. But before that day of classes began, I was told by my college counselor to keep an eye out for a message. He paged me into his office as our final classes were letting out, and Steve Frappier, the admissions officer for our region, and now the director of college counseling at my high school, was on the other end of the line inviting me to join the class of 2008. I accepted.
A few months later on the eve of freshman orientation, I saw the campus for the first time. It was beautiful, and as I remember, without much construction. The weather was warm but much cooler than the unbearable summer heat of Miami.
Nearly four years later, my apartment is filling with packed boxes of clothing, books, dishes and other souvenirs from my journey-a pint glass and shot glass for donating $20.08 to the Senior Class Gift, binders from courses on American elections, the Cold War, the civil rights movement and a folder of the pictures, maps and letters that I taped to my wall over the years.
Each of us will end our college journey in our own way. My roommate Aaron and I have decided to road trip to Miami. Some of my friends will relax around St. Louis for a few more weeks until their leases run out. And for many others, like ripping off a band-aid, they'll fly out as soon as they can before the emotions hit hard.
I'll leave you with three stories from my experience.
My freshman year dorm, Eliot House, was unique. Each floor was split evenly between sophomores and freshmen, Residential Life's goal being to facilitate mentorship and camaraderie between the wiser 19-year-olds and the less wise 18-year-olds. Naturally, we on Eliot 3 forged bonds of friendship with our freshmen peers on Eliot 2. One weekend, the perfect set of circumstances emerged. All four RAs on E2 and E3 were out for the evening. As soon as this information was passed on, we began to decorate one of the common rooms with a Halloween theme and hosted our first major college party, complete with a drink budget that rivaled the cost of some of the smaller meal plans from Bon Appétit. All it took was a group of friends, a healthy bending of the rules and some quick thinking. Many Washington University students are resourceful and inherently risk-takers. Find them and keep in contact with them. Your paths will collide in the future-as business moguls, doctors or future candidates for higher office.
This year, I had the opportunity to have dinner with members of the College Republicans, other representatives from Student Union and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. I believe Gonzales' presence revitalized campus for a few weeks and encouraged many of us to learn about his controversial tenure and the ensuing outrage. As we ate dinner with him, I found myself increasingly uneasy at the fact that this widely-abhorred man presented himself as a charming, laid-back and well-meaning individual. It dawned on me that perhaps Gonzales, this entire time, truly believed what he was doing was the morally right thing to do.
As we go out and work in the world, many of us as advocates and protectors of our fellow citizen, be aware that the source of poor decisions are sometimes found in the most powerful of places. And one's intentions do not justify the process; the ends do not always justify the means. As Washington University graduates, we should strive to uphold a higher standard together.
Nearly a year ago, I was at the Leadershape Institute, a week-long retreat supported by the Office of Student Activities and other departments around campus. Leadershape taught us about how to be good leaders and team-players by being sensitive to the diversity around us, respectful of all ideas and progressive in our thinking. The ultimate goal was to improve the world around us for all citizens, not just a subset of the population. While the world after college is far from ideal, I believe our common experience at the University has prepared us to make it a better place.
Strength through truth-per veritatem vis. It's Wash. U.'s motto, and now it's ours.
Neil Patel is graduating from the college of Arts & Sciences. He is the former Student Union president and can be reached by e-mail at neilpatel@wustl.edu.
A few months later on the eve of freshman orientation, I saw the campus for the first time. It was beautiful, and as I remember, without much construction. The weather was warm but much cooler than the unbearable summer heat of Miami.
Nearly four years later, my apartment is filling with packed boxes of clothing, books, dishes and other souvenirs from my journey-a pint glass and shot glass for donating $20.08 to the Senior Class Gift, binders from courses on American elections, the Cold War, the civil rights movement and a folder of the pictures, maps and letters that I taped to my wall over the years.
Each of us will end our college journey in our own way. My roommate Aaron and I have decided to road trip to Miami. Some of my friends will relax around St. Louis for a few more weeks until their leases run out. And for many others, like ripping off a band-aid, they'll fly out as soon as they can before the emotions hit hard.
I'll leave you with three stories from my experience.
My freshman year dorm, Eliot House, was unique. Each floor was split evenly between sophomores and freshmen, Residential Life's goal being to facilitate mentorship and camaraderie between the wiser 19-year-olds and the less wise 18-year-olds. Naturally, we on Eliot 3 forged bonds of friendship with our freshmen peers on Eliot 2. One weekend, the perfect set of circumstances emerged. All four RAs on E2 and E3 were out for the evening. As soon as this information was passed on, we began to decorate one of the common rooms with a Halloween theme and hosted our first major college party, complete with a drink budget that rivaled the cost of some of the smaller meal plans from Bon Appétit. All it took was a group of friends, a healthy bending of the rules and some quick thinking. Many Washington University students are resourceful and inherently risk-takers. Find them and keep in contact with them. Your paths will collide in the future-as business moguls, doctors or future candidates for higher office.
This year, I had the opportunity to have dinner with members of the College Republicans, other representatives from Student Union and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. I believe Gonzales' presence revitalized campus for a few weeks and encouraged many of us to learn about his controversial tenure and the ensuing outrage. As we ate dinner with him, I found myself increasingly uneasy at the fact that this widely-abhorred man presented himself as a charming, laid-back and well-meaning individual. It dawned on me that perhaps Gonzales, this entire time, truly believed what he was doing was the morally right thing to do.
As we go out and work in the world, many of us as advocates and protectors of our fellow citizen, be aware that the source of poor decisions are sometimes found in the most powerful of places. And one's intentions do not justify the process; the ends do not always justify the means. As Washington University graduates, we should strive to uphold a higher standard together.
Nearly a year ago, I was at the Leadershape Institute, a week-long retreat supported by the Office of Student Activities and other departments around campus. Leadershape taught us about how to be good leaders and team-players by being sensitive to the diversity around us, respectful of all ideas and progressive in our thinking. The ultimate goal was to improve the world around us for all citizens, not just a subset of the population. While the world after college is far from ideal, I believe our common experience at the University has prepared us to make it a better place.
Strength through truth-per veritatem vis. It's Wash. U.'s motto, and now it's ours.
Neil Patel is graduating from the college of Arts & Sciences. He is the former Student Union president and can be reached by e-mail at neilpatel@wustl.edu.
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