Dear Class of 2015,
Here we are. The final issue of the STAR. The end of the last full week of classes. And for about a quarter of the population, the end of college altogether. Alas, four years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits… I mean people. “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve”… but that is what reunions are for.
When I started at Houghton, I was that first year who sat at the front of class, went to basically every campus event, and thought I knew everyone on campus. I went to every chapel my first semester and looked down on those above me who scanned and scrammed. I thought Houghton was the best place in the world.
A lot changed between then and now, as I am sure is the same with many of you. I now sit towards the middle-back of most of my classes, I scrape together barely enough time to finish my work, and now feel like I know hardly anyone on campus. I desperately need these last few chapels and now understand why the upper classes were scanning and scramming.
Through all four years of varying degrees of bitterness or fondness, I can’t say I always thought Houghton was the best place in the world. Now though, as we draw to the end, I can say I think Houghton is one of the best places in the world.
Sure we had a lot to complain about, but in the grand scheme of things walking to get your napkins, living through polar vortices, or taking an IS class you didn’t really love don’t matter all that much. It’s the people who care about those complaining students. Having a VP of Student Life willing to listen and talk to you about issues you are passionate about even though he’s late for a meeting; having intellectual conversations with President Mullen on a bench outdoors; and we all have that Professor that is willing to help you with anything, at any time.
Let’s not linger on those little things we didn’t like, but remember the people who made this little biodome bubble worth coming to.
I want our class to be a good collection of alumni, not some hoard of peasants. Some of you may never want to come back. Other may say “Why would I ever give more money?” I say keep in touch and be an alumni that’s an asset to your alma mater. Don’t be one of those alumni we are worried about offending, be a friendly advisor and guide, not a Facebook troll.
Maybe who don’t see yourself coming back to campus, but be an alumni students can contact to find their first job or internship. Maybe you can’t give a ton of money while paying back your loans, but I say it’s worth investing, in any small way, in the place and people that invested in you.
In closing, Class of 2015, you’re a pretty awesome bunch of people and I don’t think you are peasants, so don’t be after you graduate either. Go do great things out in the world, but keep in touch and remember what the people at Houghton did for you.
“I regret to announce — this is The End. I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell.”
Luke Lauer ’15 – STAR Editor & Historian President