Commencement

Congratulations class of 2011!!!

If you’re anything like me, after several years of an expensive and accredited education, you’re sitting in your seats right now with more questions than answers. Beyond “who is this guy speaking to us right now and why is he here?”, you’re probably wondering “How did we get here so fast?” “How am I supposed to feel about today?” “ What party am I going to go to after this is over?” and “Who the hell thought of these stupid outfits?” But most importantly, somewhere deep down, you’re wondering, “What now?”

I don’t purport to know the answers to all of these questions. But let me start by at least giving you at least a frame of reference for your accomplishment today. The University of Wisconsin – Madison was established in 1848, which means there have been over 250 graduating classes between spring and winter ceremonies. There are over 390,000 living Wisconsin Alumni. In a bigger scheme, there are over 1.7 million American kids your age graduating from their respective colleges this spring, which doesn’t include the thousands upon thousands of universities all over the world. In the grandest scheme, if the entire timeline of the earth was spread out between the Kohl Center and Camp Randall, humans would account for about the length of a golf tee, and your life would amount to less than the width of a hair. I doubt this makes you feel more special.

Now. I want you to look to your friends to the left and right of you. See the memories in their eyes. Think about your professors and counselors. Remember the care they had in guiding you these past four years. Now look up into the stands at your parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and friends. Appreciate the pride in their faces. Your accomplishment in graduating, while noteworthy, is not entirely unique. But the relationships you created and nurtured and brought to life are entirely yours and yours alone. As you move on to the next steps in your lives, know that everything you do is granted importance by its impact on others.

During my freshman year, I took a class called “Integrated Liberal Studies: Economic, Political, and Social Thought in Western Culture.” Quite the mouthful. During one of our first classes, the professor asked the class of 150 students to raise their hand if they really want to be there. Of course, most hands went up. He smiled and said, “Please answer honestly. If there was anywhere else you’d rather be please put your hands down.” All the hands went down, and the professor leaned forward and said, “you’re all liars.”

He went on to explain what he called “Socrate’s Metric Art.” Every decision we make, both consciously and unconsciously, is based upon our values. We can talk all we want about how we’d rather be at the terrace drinking away the day, playing basketball at the SERF, sunning in front of the Kohl center, or on the damn moon. But the fact of the matter is that we were there, in his classroom without a gun to our head or threatened with incarceration. We were there because we valued an education and our future. So much so that we were willing to get up and go to a less than entertaining class and forego some immediate benefit for long term validation.

And so it is with you. You are sitting in this room because you too value and crave a deeper understanding of your world and your selves. You chose Wisconsin because you value what we hold dear: good-hearted friends, raucous good times, renowned educators, unifying athletics, and the feeling you get walking along State Street and heading to the farmers market. Don’t be too worried about your upcoming decisions and choices. You’re 22 or 23 and clearly have your priorities lined up.

Some of you may still be worried about entering the “Real World,” however. Forgive me when I say that the idea of a “real world” is total bull. This idea that nothing you’ve experienced is real just because you’ve been in a classroom instead of the workforce is utterly ridiculous. Tell me, when you were struggling to get through organic chemistry did you not experience real frustration? When you were trying to juggle papers, finals, interview schedules, friends, family, and practice did you not have real responsibilities? When the Badgers beat OSU and you rushed the field (and the court) did you not feel a real sense of community? Some of you may have experienced a personal or family tragedy or struggle during your four years here. Did you not suffer real loss? Sure your responsibilities will change over the years and you might have to deal with more on your plate, but don’t for a second think that it will come as anything new to you.

So, here we are at your commencement. We are celebrating your new beginning. Your continued education. Your new self with nothing more than a degree, a lot of friends, and an ever expanding horizon. As you embark, remember that the people who you surround yourself with will give your accomplishments their meaning. Trust that your values will guide you with every step you take. And have faith that you are ready to take it all on.

Badgers, let me be the first to welcome you to the rest of your life.

Congratulations.