I attended a lovely graduation ceremony this past week, as I’m sure many of you did. Huge smiles from graduates, their families, faculty, and administrators. It’s all seems worth it on this big day. And, it is. Do not be put off by the fact that there is more work ahead. (For law students, your biggest test (the #barexam) is yet to come. Embrace that as good news –as an opportunity to learn more and rise to the challenges ahead.)
Do not let the idea of further effort diminish all that you have done to get to this point. Those of us who have work to do are lucky! Incredibly lucky.
I just learned about a college graduate who walked this past week and will never walk again. She died in an accident –while her family was visiting for graduation festivities. She was and will remain a shining star in the hearts of all who knew her. I cannot believe that I will never have the chance to hug her again, to follow her career and see her shine. She will never have the chance to work. Her career was taken from her, as was her life, at 22.
I don’t have the right words. I doubt there are any. My heart goes out to her family and friends. She will be missed dearly.
So, to all my students and readers, to anyone facing a bar exam this summer, to those studying in summer school, to the many engaged in summer jobs or internships, to all who just graduated and are looking for jobs –let us collectively be thankful that we face work ahead. The fact that we get to work means we are alive. And let us support one another in the process.
Tragedies remind us that the road ahead may be cut short at any moment; let’s make sure that each step we take is filled with purpose and gratitude. And, let none of us be discouraged by the fact that some of those steps will be challenging. How lucky we are to be here to face challenges….
Sara J. Berman 