2008 Woodie Awards
To the Class of 2005:
Issue date: 6/2/05 Section: Grad Section
Is it really over? It was just yesterday that we took our first steps onto the campus of the University of Washington, Tacoma, nervous and scared not knowing what would lie ahead or who we would meet and wondering if we would fit in.
We felt alone. But that changed.
We all have our stories of how we got here, the struggles behind it all such as tending to a family outside of class, striving to get that perfect grade, while working to pay the bills and trying to enjoy the social aspect of it all. How did we manage it all?
The sleepless nights as we did our best to finish a paper leaving permanent fingerprints on the computer keys, commuting to campus at least twice a week and hoping that you wouldn't be too late to get that perfect free parking space, standing in line for a course pack and buying books we couldn't afford and finally debating the grand question of our time: Taco Del Mar or Subway, Subway or Taco Del Mar.
Looking back as each new quarter unfolded there was always the first couple weeks of silence and awkwardness as it was a new professor to become accustomed to and forty other students to learn to respect and connect with.
The silence was broken as friendships began to bloom because we all realized that although we were different due to our individual personalities, our cultural backgrounds, and our intellect, we were all there for one common purpose, to better ourselves and achieve greatness by making our dreams, hopes and goals a reality.
After today, it may seem like you no longer have an identity; the one where you were able to check occupation: student. However, today is just the beginning. You will take the world head on, give back to your community, climb the corporate ladder, perhaps start a family, buy that first house you always dreamed of and hang that long awaited degree framed on your very own wall to confirm that you did it. You proved you had a purpose, a vision, a will, strength, courage and perseverance.
We felt alone. But that changed.
We all have our stories of how we got here, the struggles behind it all such as tending to a family outside of class, striving to get that perfect grade, while working to pay the bills and trying to enjoy the social aspect of it all. How did we manage it all?
The sleepless nights as we did our best to finish a paper leaving permanent fingerprints on the computer keys, commuting to campus at least twice a week and hoping that you wouldn't be too late to get that perfect free parking space, standing in line for a course pack and buying books we couldn't afford and finally debating the grand question of our time: Taco Del Mar or Subway, Subway or Taco Del Mar.
Looking back as each new quarter unfolded there was always the first couple weeks of silence and awkwardness as it was a new professor to become accustomed to and forty other students to learn to respect and connect with.
The silence was broken as friendships began to bloom because we all realized that although we were different due to our individual personalities, our cultural backgrounds, and our intellect, we were all there for one common purpose, to better ourselves and achieve greatness by making our dreams, hopes and goals a reality.
After today, it may seem like you no longer have an identity; the one where you were able to check occupation: student. However, today is just the beginning. You will take the world head on, give back to your community, climb the corporate ladder, perhaps start a family, buy that first house you always dreamed of and hang that long awaited degree framed on your very own wall to confirm that you did it. You proved you had a purpose, a vision, a will, strength, courage and perseverance.