Congratulations Whitman Class of 2011. We have made it to graduation, and it seems like only yesterday we were freshmen. I myself remember riding in the car to Whitman and thinking, “Wow, what have I gotten myself into? I’m going to a college that appears to be in the middle of nowhere and that sent me a box of onions when I was accepted. Is there something I missed? Did all those statistics in The Princeton Review fail to mention an enormous percentage of madness?”

During freshmen orientation I was still trying to piece together my feelings on this whole new experience, and to this day I can remember hearing one of the speakers explain the meaning of Walla Walla in Nez Perce, which is place of many waters. I could not help but chuckle to myself because in the Filipino language, Tagalog, Walla Walla meant Nothing Nothing. It was then that I wondered if Whitman was a place where I would drink in life and knowledge or just another big nothing nothing.

Now I laugh at these questions. By the end of the weekend, I, as many others, have formed meaningful friendships and caught the bug of enthusiasm, which is an epidemic on our campus. I have found that people genuinely care and everyone seems to have a passion for something whether it was chemistry, cycling, politics, music, dance, hanging out with friends or even playing the card game Magic. Yes, if Princeton Review were to attempt to statistically measure the madness on different campuses I’m sure Whitman would be at the top of the list. Imagine what someone from the  Princeton Review might see:

1)       Person standing at the center of a concrete circle talking to themselves and insisting that a giant fish with a bowl on its nose talks back … Madness check one

2)       People building a giant ark in the middle of Ankeny … Yes, it rains sometimes but we haven’t had a flood of biblical proportions quite yet … Madness check two

3)       Students rapping and beat boxing “I scream for ice cream,” and people paying them for it … come on guys that song was cool in elementary school … Madness check three

I could continue, but the thing to realize is that behind every bit of madness here, is an overflowing amount of passion. That fish on Ankeny really does talk back, and students take pleasure in sharing this with others. The ark on Ankeny wasn’t meant for sailing, instead it was someone’s artistic expression. Those beat boxers and the students donating money were a part of the event Mr. Whitman, which raised 46,000 dollars for Brain Cancer Research in honor of a Whitman parent and in hopes that one day we might find a cure. You see, we Whitties might seem crazy, but in reality Whitman is a robust waterfall of passion in Walla Walla, the place of many waters. It is far from nothing nothing.

Fellow graduates, I hope you take some time to consider all the hands that have helped you reach this point with this crazy group of people. Family and friends are the hands that have nurtured, helped, and supported us. Thank them. Those of administration and staff are the hands that have made sure everything at this campus ran smoothly. Thank them. The hands of professors have written in red ink, chalk, and marker and pushed us to not only gain more knowledge, but to analyze the world in a whole new way. Once again, thank them.

Finally, graduating class of 2011, think of your hands. Your hands will be used to plant seeds of choice that will be nourished by your overflowing passion. These seeds might grow new treatments for illnesses, new technology, new awe-inspiring works of art, and anything the mind might imagine. But right now these are the hands which can clap in celebration of receiving our long-anticipated diplomas. Thank you all for a wonderful four years, and best of luck in your future endeavours. I’m expecting amazing things.