It was a bittersweet event, attending my son Zach's graduation from Goucher College On the one hand, I'm very proud of him, both for his accomplishments, and for the adult he's become. But I worry about his job prospects, how he will cope with the "real world", whatever that is, and whether he is happy. Someone said "You are only as happy as your most unhappy child." As much as you want your kids to learn how to navigate life on their own, it's hard not to try to micromanage. At least for us.
It also brings back my own memories of college, also bittersweet. Like Zach, I graduated from a small liberal arts college. My student days, from 1969 - 1973, were filled with tumult; societal, political and personal. They weren't "the best years of my life", and neither were they the worst. As with everytning, there were moments of elation and sadness, profound connections and searing loneliness, enlightenment and confusion. One thing about time, though, it does fly, whether you're having fun or not! And it's a one way ticket. So it's best to try and enjoy the ride and the scenery as much as you can. Youth is not wasted on the young, it's a gift endowed upon all of us.
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