While home for a weekend in April, an older friend gave me a piece of advice. “Enjoy the last few weeks of college,” she said, “since college is the best time of your life.”
This was not the first time I’d heard such a statement, but with graduation fast approaching, her words especially struck me. It seemed a bit depressing to reach one’s life peak at a mere 22 years of age, but to her credit, college has been one of the best times in my life so far. I made fantastic friends, took amazing classes, and learned a great deal about myself. But I was also excited for the time after college – moving to a new city, starting a new job, and becoming a “real” person. I hoped that my great expectations were not unfounded.
Then, last week I read a terrific column in Real Simple magazine entitled “100 Years of Attitude,” in which women 100 years and older shared their life experiences and insights. I noticed from reading their stories that none of them remembered college as the “best” time of their life. Granted, not all of them went to college, but still in most cases their teens and twenties were not the best times of their life. They cited as some of their favorite times raising their children, traveling after retirement, and even enjoying their present time and age.
Enjoying one’s present time and age was a clear theme of the testimonials. A consistent piece of advice given by the women regarded the importance of making the best of all situations. I would argue this outlook to be more accurate than that of my friend; I can say with certainty that if I am lucky enough to make it to 100, I refuse to spend the last 80 years of my life plummeting downhill, or even leveling off.
I believe that most of our graduating class would agree. My roommate of three years and I discussed the topic over a glass of wine. We agreed that despite our successes over our WU tenure, we were far from completely fulfilled. Instead, the very nature of our dedication to school and extracurriculars was what also inspired us not to settle with only what we had accomplished over the past four years. It never occurred to either of us that our achievements in college would be the ‘peak’ of our successes.
Much of our growth in college prepared us to take advantage of whatever opportunities arise in our future lives as “real” people, the people we will become in our last 80 years. Over the past four years I have experienced many friendships made and some regrettably lost, spent five months working in a foreign country, and increasingly recognized the changes in my relationship with my parents. All of these developments have made me more able to fully enjoy and benefit from life post-college.
Somehow I do not believe I am alone in my embracement of the100-year-old philosophy. The typical WU student similarly is of determined personality and will turn any undertaking into an accomplishment and find opportunity in any situation. Here, students and faculty both live their life in pure pursuit of a passion, whether artistic, academic, or extracurricular. As a recent example, last week I attended a show displaying the work of WU fashion majors. When I heard them talk about the long nights and challenging assignments, I couldn’t help but think that their pieces were a tangible manifestation of their passion for an area, something so typical of students here. I can hardly wait to see what they do with their next 80 years after college.
As commencement approaches, there will be many hugs and tears among members of our class. I am sure that I will hear at least once more the line quipped by my older friend, that this time is our peak to which the rest of life cannot compare. But as another saying goes, “with age comes wisdom,” and the advice of a few 100-year-old ladies will keep me from subscribing to the doomsday outlook of post-graduation.
For in the end, I am confident that the dedication to the pursuit of passion, nearly universal in the members of our graduating class, will make those of us who leave WU ready to live the next years of our life not solely looking backwards in longing at the college days. Instead, we will look forward in anticipation of our continued journey uphill.