The Barton Community College graduation ceremony is behind us and Great Bend High School seniors will graduate on Sunday. Now is a good time to remind these celebrants how proud we are of them.
Those who haven’t walked across the stage yet should consider joining the ranks. It’s never too late, and here in Barton County there are plenty of opportunities for adult education.
Great Bend USD 428 has this mission statement: “Our mission is to educate and prepare all students to become responsible citizens and lifelong learners.”
For Barton Community College: “Barton is driven to provide an educational system that is learning-centered, innovative, meets workforce needs, strengthens communities, and meets the needs of a diverse population.”
Each year graduates receive words of wisdom from their elders, but in 2007 Whoopi Goldberg told graduates at Montclair State University, “If you’re willing to stand for what you believe in, you won’t need advice from me, because you will be able to handle whatever comes.”
In 2005, Steve Jobs told Stanford graduates, “Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”
While these words ring true, there will be many times when graduates will indeed want to listen to others and seek advice. Relationships are and will be an important part of your life. Ellen DeGeneres once said, “Never follow anyone else’s path, unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path. Then, by all means, follow that.”
In the words of Stephan Pastis (as delivered by his character Pig in the comic strip Pearls Before Swine), “Love everyone you’re with, because comforting each other on this journey ... is the best we can do. And laugh as much as you can.”