Dear Graduating Seniors,

“This, you know, is a time of taking in – taking in friendship, conversation, gaiety, wisdom, knowledge, beauty, holiness   – and later, well, there will be a time of giving out,” remarks a friend of Sheldon Vanauken about the college years in Vanauken’s memoir A Severe Mercy. This profound insight, shared during a late night conversation among friends, is to me the clearest statement of the ultimate goal of a college education: college is that time when you prepare for your own time of giving out.
It is now your turn to take the richness of your education and experiences from Whitman and share them with the world. By contributing your gifts and talents to others, you can begin to utilize your four-year investment of taking in.   How you choose to do this depends on you.

Share in a way that is uniquely yours.   Choose to inspire with your gifts ––whatever they are. Do not become complacent in either your actions or your thinking.   Use your finely honed intellectual mind-set to ask “why?” and “how?”   Use your talents, whatever they are, to enrich the lives of others. Remember that many will see you as a role model, so act in a way to deserve that respect. However, it may be helpful to realize that others may resent or reject your experiences and perspectives.

You have been a member of a rare environment for the past four years. At Whitman, we encourage you to revel in the richness of our campus: the facilities, the faculty, the friendships, the challenges and the conversations.   A community of passionate people surrounds you; people who share your enthusiasm for learning, teaching and volunteering engage you in their world just as you engage them in yours.

The world at large is, on the whole, much less generous in spirit. Be prepared for hardships and frustration. Be prepared to face indifference. Be prepared for others to not openheartedly listen or care.   Be prepared for little or no praise when you do things well. Be prepared for more accountability when you do something poorly. Be prepared to have times in your life when you do not love your job.   Be prepared for the times when you have so much responsibility that you feel you can go no further.
Through it all, though, rely on the strength you gained during your time of taking in.   Recognize the value of each little step as you progress forward. Work to maintain your friendships. Make good choices and be willing to accept change. Laugh at yourself and your mistakes. Don’t take yourself too seriously and don’t expect others to always take you seriously. Respect those around you even when they disagree with you.   Learn to really listen. And, above all, be true to yourself.   Be true to the fundamental parts of your humanity and what makes you uniquely you.
Become the adult you are meant to be.   Embrace your own time of giving out.

Sincerely,
Allison Calhoun