As we walked through the Christy Mathewson Gates for the first time and began our official journey on campus, a plethora of emotions swirled among the thousand people present: excitement, anticipation, boredom, apprehension, frustration, hunger and perhaps even a hint of restlessness.
Yet, for some, there was also a deeper feeling. A question, even: ‘What am I doing here? Why am I here?’ We all knew people before coming here—some of us may even be glad they couldn’t join us—but for many, those people represented everything familiar. Perhaps, for some, this school was an escape from whatever troubles had taken hold back home.
I’m sure we all also know someone who couldn’t escape.
And so, we ask ourselves: ‘Why couldn’t they? Why did we have the privilege of moving forward while they did not? Why are we able to move ahead while they remain trapped by their past?’
We may not have been thinking about them as we crossed the threshold into our new lives, but perhaps in the days of orientation, or during the tired nights that followed, they crept into our minds. It’s not a comforting thought, nor a pleasant or calming one, but it remains part of our human conscience—the altruistic tendency to look back and feel that something is unresolved.
While our bright flame burned on the night of convocation, lighting up the quad and marking our promising future, we know there are just as many who don’t share that same bright outlook. Who stare out their windows each night, imagining what might lie beyond the next hill—or simply longing for a life different from the one they’re stuck in.
Maybe they’re thinking ‘What makes me more deserving than them?’ or ‘Maybe this whole college decision was a mistake. Maybe they misjudged my accomplishments and I’m not meant to be here. Maybe the workload is more than I expected and I’m not prepared for it. Maybe I don’t belong here.’
Maybe it hit you one night after a wild party—or the morning after. This is all so different. The freedom is both intoxicating and terrifying.
Maybe you want to go home.
Most of us might never admit to feeling this way, but I’m certain the thought has crossed our minds.
I invite everyone here, whether it’s your first or final year, to reflect on everything you’ve accomplished. All the amazing things you’ve done. Every achievement that led you to Bucknell and to the incredible people and experiences you’ve encountered along the way.
Thank you for being part of this school. Thank you for being invested in Bucknell. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day of learning and connecting to reflect with me.
Thank you for being you.