How many times have you seen college graduations play out in movies? Not many, if any at all, right? Movies take us to fantasy lands, and places audiences want to be. College graduations are not where people want to be, mainly because of the uncertainty that lies ahead.
Coming out of high school, we knew our deal, and we knew that the foreseeable future was there for the taking, filled with a multitude of possibilities but still having a framework surrounding it: college.
This "rite of passage" which brings us together today looks a bit murkier through the windshield. I have my wipers on full blast, but the fog is yet to be lifted.
But you know what I say to all of that? Who cares.
Over our Tufts careers, we have gained quite the education about how to live for the moment. Four professional sports championships in as many years will do that to a region. So why should a college graduation be any different?
I, like many of my compatriots, am not as gainfully employed as I would like to be leaving here today. Sure, the future would be well-positioned if I had a real job (besides waiting tables) to look forward to, but such is not the case. So while graduation is supposed to be a "first day of the rest of your life" moment, I prefer to think of it simply as a day to celebrate what we have seen and done in our time as Jumbos.
When George Foreman hung up his boxing gloves, do you think he knew he would be making millions on a Lean Mean Grilling Machine?
Do you think Paul Newman knew he would gain a new generation of fans mainly because his face was on salad dressing?
The clich?©d point is that the future, whether it has been "started" yet or not, holds a ton of possibilities. And today is not the day to agonize over what those may be. Take a look at the people around you. Think about that time you painted the cannon, or made fun of the kids who were painting the cannon. Think of the time you had a few too many and climbed on top of Jumbo. This is the last time you'll be around most of these people; talk to one of those faces you never met, it will probably feel good.
"I thought this was a sports column?" you're asking. What happened to the inane quips that made up "Some Kind of Wonderful" all year? Well, I'm going to recall some goofy stuff that made my stay in Mehfah/Suhmvull so enjoyable for you now, such as:
- My roommate, Steve Cincotta, taking a pitching-machine fastball directly off the chest out of the hand of Greg Hickey. Point-blank range. Just one of the many classic moments from that freshman year JV baseball season.
- The other football coaches making me do an impression of our defensive coordinator, Coach Walsh, in front of the team before the Amherst game that year. At least I made one contribution.
- One of my buddies, who shall remain nameless, dominating 10 Krispy Kremes in one sitting. This is the same man who would go on to wrap a hot dog with a Krispy Kreme and go to work. Bravo, anonymous eater.
- Sitting on this very quad during freshman orientation, during Larry Bacow's first address as Tufts president, and all I could think about was how many dips and pull-ups I would be able to do in the football fitness testing that was to follow that day. I can't remember how many I did, but I do remember being paralyzed by those thoughts. I was not yet, as I have been promoting, living in the moment.
- Pledging DU. It may have been dubbed Delta "Oops I pledged the wrong fraternity" by us, but in the end, my college career has been a more ... interesting ... place because of it.
- Living in West Hall sophomore year. I'm sure everyone has their favorite Naked Quad Run moments from their four years, but having our own room on the first floor made that a night that will not soon be forgotten.
There are so many more. I have to let go of Tufts, but it won't be easy. I'll miss all of you at the Daily. Being the only senior on the sports staff this year was an honor. But you guys will definitely be alright without me. You may even be better/more productive.
Thanks to my family as well. Much of the fam has been reading this column all year, but they've had the online version. How much better does my picture make the reading experience? I thought so.
As one rather destructive stoner said in the immortal "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead" as he shoots plates thrown into the air, "The dishes are done maaan!!!"
Yes, indeed, the dishes of four years of college life are done. But don't smash them.
You have a Tufts degree, seniors. Don't forget that.
In the words of Terrance Mann, "Peace, love, dope. Now get the hell outta here!!"
Tim Whelan is graduating today with a degree in English. He can be reached at Timothy.Whelan@tufts.edu.
