The power of the undergraduate experience
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hokiecsgrad/463975249/I've hesitated to write anything about this here, but it has so dominated my personal and professional landscape over the last 2 days that it would be inconsistent to avoid it.
My first kiss with my wife happened on the outside steps of West AJ, the ones that pointed towards "The Prairie."
I majored in Engineering Science and Mechanics, whose home is in Norris Building. I can't tell you how many classes I took there, office-hours attended there, etc. Class sizes are so small in that department that each graduation class has its picture taken and last time I visited campus, my picture was hanging in Norris Hall.
With 22 years and hundreds of miles between my memories at Virginia Tech and Blacksburg, I didn't think I'd be quite so consumed with the tragedies. Anyone with a heart is saddened to be certain, but I can't think that I'll be getting this out of my head any time soon.
The intensity of the undergraduate experience is not to be underestimated and I'm reminded of that. I feel intense sadness, pride, and even hope for the current faculty, students and staff of Virginia Tech. We've got 83,000 students at Penn State who are right in the middle of falling in love with this time of their lives and we touch each and every one of them in some way during the course of their time here. What a responsibility.
But the strongest feeling of all for me these last two evenings have come when I've been playing with our youngest. The parents of each of the victims played with their kids when they were little, taught them how to read, hoped they would go to college, and get prepared to serve the world ("Ut Prosim"). They sent their children to Blacksburg to learn how to better serve the world. I choose to honor the parents and the students, by recommitting to serving our own students in a way that they will best be prepared to serve the world.
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I haven't felt like this since 9/11. Great write Kevin.
These are the times when we come together and need to refocus our energy on what our lives are really about. The fact that we have an opportunity to be a part of every student's life and ultimately help shape their future is an awesome responsibility and opportunity. Your post hits so much of this on the head for me -- I feel so humbled by it all and I have found new energy in why I choose to be a part of the higher education community.
Being a WVU grad I know all to well the VT story -- they are wildly passionate about their school and about life. I am so sorry this has hit so close to home for you, but the thoughts you have expressed here are important and well stated. Thank you.
I look at Penn State as a family; a family in the sense that our common thread is Penn State. We share in the excitement of academic and athletic achievement. We marvel at the growth and expansion of our “home”. Now is the time when we also need to come together. We need to be supportive, protective and available to any and all who need a listening ear, sympathetic shoulder or reassurance of their safety. I believe Penn State will come through as we always do and meet the needs of our “family”. I feel certain the Virginia Tech “family” will unite and pull together to survive this horrific event. Thank you Kevin for sharing the beautiful photo and your sentiment.