Through adversity, here we are

To our graduating seniors — congratulations!

Finally, in just days, years and years of hard work will soon become immortalized on a piece of paper titled your Undergraduate Diploma.
I’m sure you are anxious to start a new chapter in your life, whether it is starting your dream job or the job hunt, furthering your education, traveling, serving the country, moving to a new city, or moving back home. You might be super excited, but you might also even be dreading leaving the nest, because it’s all you’ve ever known. You’re checking off checklists, counting down the days — the next two weeks will be filled with so much celebration and happiness, but an equal share of goodbyes and tears.

Try not to be too nervous about entering this new chapter in life, most simply because you’ve been there before! Starting college, starting high school, or even the first time you left home: all of those experiences were super daunting at the time, but in retrospect, seem like nothing. You probably sobbed in your mom or dad’s arms the first time they left, and they sobbed after you left. This is just how life goes on.

Your first time going to class and your first time skipping a class — all of these moments make up who you are and what kind of person you’ll be once released to “the real world.” All of the challenges you’ve faced and all the gifts you’ve been blessed with create you. Like with diamonds, the harder you pushed and endured, the brighter and stronger you came out in the end.

Even if you’re unsure of where you are or where you want to be, it’s all alright. What’s meant to be is meant to be, and what isn’t, isn’t in your hands. Just stay true to yourself and what you want. What you believe in — your values, interests, rights — and work hard. Work twice, three times as diligently as you did when you were a student. Or maybe, take some time to relax and find yourself. You’ve earned it! Finally pursue the hobby you promised yourself you would but never did, take the time to start your New Year’s resolutions, reach out to old connections, and restart. All of these opportunities are now possible as you’re starting again in life.

You’re counting down the days until the end. But isn’t it actually the beginning? Even if you’re not at where you had hoped you’d be, you’ve come so far and should be proud. Stevens is not easy, but you made it. A diploma or my words don’t mean much, but hopefully you can use both to encourage yourself that you’re worth it and that you’re going to do amazing things in your life.

Hopefully your time at Stevens will be a fond memory; with the graduation issue, we document every senior’s name so that at least once they’re able to be a part of Stevens history. We hope that during your time here we were able to serve you well, and that as an alumnus you will continue to support us every now and then by reading. Even if you’re not in the stars quite yet, and just “here” trying to figure out where to go in life, know that everyone in The Stute is rooting for you.