Some parting words

I've ordered my outrageously-priced graduation gear. I have made plans for the subsequent barbecue and festivities. Maybe I'll even break down and buy some IU apparel for when I'm feeling nostalgic for my days as a Hoosier. If things go well -- and I really hope they do -- I will even turn in my second-to-last paper today. Yes, this graduate student is ready to graduate -- again. \nOf course, this time it may be a little scarier. Last time I graduated, I had a pretty good idea I'd be back in school someday. Law school or business school or something -- I thought when I came back, I would have it all figured out. I pictured myself having laser-like focus on specific and well-planned career goals. I would meet with "colleagues" to talk about "smart career moves." When I finished school, I'd know exactly where I was headed. Five years later, I am finding it's less like a laser and more like pin the tail on the donkey. \nI have had a pretty good time writing for the Indiana Daily Student this semester. Sometimes I stayed up late into the night before deadlines trying to have an opinion about something -- anything! But in the last couple weeks, I have noticed the opinions were coming easier. Now, I have a backlog of opinions just waiting to make it to paper. \nIn my 14 previous opinion columns, I tried not to ramble and change subject in mid-column, but this is my last one, so I have an excuse -- because there are so many columns I won't be able to write for the IDS now. Let me give you a sampling. \nI wish I had written more "feel-good" columns. A random sampling of my own columns or any other opinion columns find most of them are complaining about something, but there is a lot to be happy about in this world. Many of those positive things relate to food -- like gyros. I could write two feel-good columns about gyros. I love them. \nIf this wasn't my last column, I probably would have written a whole column on George Bush and Dick Cheney testifying together for the 9-11 commission. Unlike all the other adults, they insisted on testifying side-by-side. The column would have written itself. "Dick knows me so well, sometimes he finishes my sentences," said George with a twinkle in his eye. \nI might have written a column about a complaint an older acquaintance of mine always has about our generation. He always asks why people our age aren't out protesting -- and he was asking this way before the war. "When I was your age, we protested … " just about anything. He thought our generation's lack of protesting ability meant we were apathetic. \nI am sorry, by the way, if I have shaken any undergraduate's confidence in graduate school. I may not be focused, but I had a good time. Well, actually it sucked. In theory, though, I will demand more respect and a larger salary. \nBut there is good news for everyone who is graduating. Only about one-quarter of Americans have college degrees. Chances are, since you are lucky enough to read this excellent column, you are also be lucky enough to belong to that group. For most of us, having a degree will mean a life of relative comfort, but it also gives us greater opportunities to get involved in things that matter. Even if some us do only stumble our way into the adult world, I have a feeling we'll prove we're not so apathetic after all.