Graduation

I'm just here to give a quick update. I plan to get back to regular blogging later this upcoming week, probably between Wednesday and Friday. It appears that the Virginia blogosphere has been very active these past few weeks (such as the second blogging conference, which regrettably I will be unable to attend), so I have some catching up to do.

In about 12 hours, I will be attending graduation ceremonies at the University of Virginia. It is hard to describe the great mix of emotions I am feeling, but even knowing that I am ready for my future, I will miss UVa. Still, life must go on, and it will. My advice to all college students who read this blog; make the most of your time in college. There is a lot of opportunity when you graduate, but four years at college will fly by. Work hard, but make sure to spend time with friends and doing the things you enjoy. From my experience, these have been the best four years of my life, and I suspect the same can be said for many others. And when you do graduate, take pride in your accomplishment. Remember your years as happy ones and look ahead to what life will bring you.

The University of Virginia writes her highest degree on the souls of her sons. The parchment page of scholarship-the colored ribbon of a society-the jeweled emblem of a fraternity-the orange symbol of athletic prowess-all these, a year hence, will be at the best mementos of happy hours-like the withered flower a woman presses between the pages of a book for sentiment's sake.

But...

If you live a long, long time, and hold honesty of conscience above honesty of purse:

And turn aside without ostentation to aid the weak;

And treasure ideals more than raw ambition;

And track no man to his undeserved hurt;

And pursue no woman to her tears;

And love the beauty of noble music and mist-veiled mountains and blossoming valleys and great monuments-

If you live a long time and, keeping the faith in all these things hour by hour, still see that the sun gilds your path with real gold and that the moon floats in dream silver;

Then...

Remembering the purple shadows of the lawn, the majesty of the colonnades, and the dream of your youth, you may say in reverence and thankfulness:

"I have worn the honors of Honor, I graduated from Virginia"

-- The Honor Men, James Hay Jr.