For the last number of weeks my younger cousin has been
tweeting and status updating about prom, the last day of school, baccalaureate,
and graduation. I have been unable to stop reminiscing about that time in my
own life.
Listening to all the graduation speeches made me ponder what
I would say if I were asked to give a graduation address. The ideas expressed
would, in some way, resemble this.
The following was a quote used in one of the speeches-
"I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my
soul." (William Ernest Henley). I can get on board with the second half of
that quote. Fate is bigger than I am so I want to refrain from saying that I am
master of my own, but I can guide the decisions that lead to my fate. Much as a
captain guides his ship to shore. The wind and waves may push me to and fro,
high and low, near and far but the responsibility of guiding my decisions
remains mine. I will, therefore, assemble all my loved ones onto the ship with
me and steer myself to a life of loving, laughing, and learning.
Living for something/ someone bigger than yourself creates a
sense of belonging, fulfillment, and purpose. That something bigger can be God,
family, job, a worthy cause, and maybe even fate. Living for fate seems
ridiculous, but in some way it is merely another way of saying, "chase
your dreams".
Today, as I remember the liberating feeling of the small
rebellious act of tossing my graduation cap after the tassel switched sides and
the school song resounded throughout the auditorium, I say to those just
knowing the feeling of liberation for the first time to keep your loved ones on
board and always steer your ship towards love and eventually fate will show its
face just after the horizon.
Congrats class of 2013!
