Thursday, February 17, 2011

"Great Rejoicing"

I remember standing there as this old man was addressing all these newly accepted Duke students.

"Getting accepted to Duke was the best day of my life!"

Instantly I felt sad for the man. That the 40+ years or the 18 before them did not contain any better moment in his life. Christmas? Thanksgiving with the family? Wedding? Birth of a child? These events were less significant compared to receiving a letter that says you are accepted to an academic institution? I understand the excitement, I've seen someone receive that same exact acceptance letter (actually it was an email). Heck, I jumped through the halls of my condo once I received the acceptance letter to Campbell.

But one of the worse lies I've heard lately is the idea that college is the best time of your life. That is complete bullcrap.

I had an amazing time in college. I did things that I never thought I've ever accomplish in my life. From a packing out a gymnasium to bowing in front of a standing ovation. College provide me with numerous bookmark moments. And there are those times that I miss the spontaneity, care free atmosphere of college.....

Yet, I've recently came to the conclusion that these past years I've spent graduated are some of the best of my life.

Yes, the "real world" has its share of struggles. There are those days that the monogamy of working makes you completely miserable and the real world does take a considerable amount of adjusting.

But once you find solid ground in the middle of the bombardment of new responsibilities and a new life, I hope you find what I found. The most fulfillment I've had in my life.