A Message to Grads - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A Message to Grads

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
EscherEnigma
May 16, 2010 13:56:56 Courtesy of Wonderella [link].

On that note, that was the worst part of all the graduation ceremonies that I've gone to. All the pointless optimism and nice-sounding words. Everyone there knows that it hasn't been a fun journey, it's been a miserable and tedious 4+ years crowded together mostly with people you're indifferent to at best and hate at worst with maybe a few that are tolerable and don't fill you with frothing rage. And the future never looks bright, it's always looking worse then the past (yay nostalgia!) and it's pretty well documented that "the good ol' times" were better then things are now, all the way back to Plato.

Yet at graduations it's always smiles and giggling and people you don't know lying through their teeth about how good it is and all that jazz, and then the hugging of people you don't know and the hats in the air and the fog horns (seriously, who brings fog horns to a graduation?!)

Bah.

Anyway, congratulations any graduates out there! You can't do a worse job then your predecessors! I'm not bitter!
#2
MechaPilot
May 16, 2010 14:04:59 If you're talking about high school, then I agree that it sucked. I have found college much more of an open and friendly environment however.
#3
EscherEnigma
May 16, 2010 14:14:34
If you're talking about high school, then I agree that it sucked. I have found college much more of an open and friendly environment however.

Eh, it is better then high school was (it would be hard to be worse, really), but my sentiments about pointless graduation speeches and misplaced optimism still applies.
#4
ADHadh
May 16, 2010 16:37:30 That comic is wrong.

It can always get worse.
#5
Ragnar_Lodbrok
May 16, 2010 17:15:57 Yeah. They could glass the planet.
#6
EscherEnigma
May 16, 2010 18:04:28
Yeah. They could glass the planet.

No they can't, there's too much water. You'd have to boil the seas first but that would just come back down as rain anyway.
#7
Ragnar_Lodbrok
May 16, 2010 18:14:49
Yeah. They could glass the planet.

No they can't, there's too much water. You'd have to boil the seas first but that would just come back down as rain anyway.

Fine. Glass the landforms then.
#8
ADHadh
May 16, 2010 18:29:47
Yeah. They could glass the planet.

No they can't, there's too much water. You'd have to boil the seas first but that would just come back down as rain anyway.

"Extreemly difficult" does not mean "impossible".
#9
seventhsolitude
May 16, 2010 18:49:12 I loved college. I made friends, learned a great deal, and lived in a very sheltered community. The degree opened doors, and affords many opportunities. Life is hard sometimes, I don't think many educators or commencement speakers would deny that. But graduation is a pivotal event in one's life, and the fact that you have received a college degree means you are much less likely to endure financial hardship than someone he hasn't.
#10
death_isthe_begining
May 16, 2010 20:23:37 I never had any real problems in high school but by then I was starting grow a beard and I have never been small. I remember middle school was full of arogant idiots (teacher and student alike). The key to dealing with people is to find some common ground to start the conversation on then go from there.
#11
bone_naga
May 16, 2010 21:25:24
Courtesy of Wonderella [link].

On that note, that was the worst part of all the graduation ceremonies that I've gone to. All the pointless optimism and nice-sounding words. Everyone there knows that it hasn't been a fun journey, it's been a miserable and tedious 4+ years crowded together mostly with people you're indifferent to at best and hate at worst with maybe a few that are tolerable and don't fill you with frothing rage. And the future never looks bright, it's always looking worse then the past (yay nostalgia!) and it's pretty well documented that "the good ol' times" were better then things are now, all the way back to Plato.

Yet at graduations it's always smiles and giggling and people you don't know lying through their teeth about how good it is and all that jazz, and then the hugging of people you don't know and the hats in the air and the fog horns (seriously, who brings fog horns to a graduation?!)

Bah.

Anyway, congratulations any graduates out there! You can't do a worse job then your predecessors! I'm not bitter!

Fortunately for me I skipped my high school graduation and I'm getting my degree online.
#12
Cpt_Micha
May 17, 2010 6:07:44 So today I get to drive two hours on a :stormy: day like today to go to my friend's graduation ceremony. (College) So yeah.

*eyes clock* god I used to be up an hour earlier?

Ugh.
#13
Klirshon
May 17, 2010 7:51:16
Here's another message for you graduates out there.
Breaking into your school as your senior prank isn't a good idea.
This prank is about as idiotic as stealing a Frisch's Big Boy® statue.
#14
scypio
May 18, 2010 14:32:43
I loved college. I made friends, learned a great deal, and lived in a very sheltered community. The degree opened doors, and affords many opportunities. Life is hard sometimes, I don't think many educators or commencement speakers would deny that. But graduation is a pivotal event in one's life, and the fact that you have received a college degree means you are much less likely to endure financial hardship than someone he hasn't.

I agree with you. I enjoyed college and actually miss parts of it now (primarily people who are motivated and excited to learn along with actually doing real chemistry).

But even if you disliked college, it definately provides more opportunity than someone without a degree.
#15
archyneir
May 18, 2010 17:23:45
But even if you disliked college, it definitely provides more opportunity than someone without a degree.

Yes & No, but overall college or university was never something I was remotely interested in. I'm already working doing what I love doing best, and getting paid more then quadruple minimum wage to do so, which is more then most diploma-jockies I know are getting. Which is totally messed up, given our societies push for education and the value therein.

Cheers!
#16
fff
May 18, 2010 21:53:02 Ah, High School. What a blast. I remember, as a senior, meeting this younger guy in the hall and knocking his books from his hands everyday for a little over a week.

Then I realised why bullies were bullies. It felt awesome. Not the realising I had become a bully; That part sucked. But the week leading up to it? Oh yeah.

And that's why I like playing the pushy defender. Because insults are free.
#17
tsukinousagi
May 20, 2010 7:44:27 Listen to the song High School never ends.

No seriously, listen to the lyrics carefully.

I'm 48 and I know, the song is very true.

It was true for me and I was the guy that was not popular, hid in the library and became very smart.

It was true for my super jock brother, and it was true for my cheerleader grade looks sister (she was never a cheeleader, but that was her choice not theirs).

My message to grads, pick post secondary that leads directly to work you actually expect to get.
No don't get post secondary that sounds fun or neat.
That history major in University won't be worth **** if you don't plan to write history books and get a job at a school as a teacher, so that means teacher's college. And that means several years teaching grade 3 before you even get thought of for a high school position where you might even get to teach history.

Pick wisely. Pick a small business course, learn the ropes of business. Let some other schmuck grad work for YOU.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 EscherEnigma May 16, 2010 13:56:56	Courtesy of Wonderella [link]. On that note, that was the worst part of all the graduation ceremonies that I've gone to. All the pointless optimism and nice-sounding words. Everyone there knows that it hasn't been a fun journey, it's been a miserable and tedious 4+ years crowded together mostly with people you're indifferent to at best and hate at worst with maybe a few that are tolerable and don't fill you with frothing rage. And the future never looks bright, it's always looking worse then the past (yay nostalgia!) and it's pretty well documented that "the good ol' times" were better then things are now, all the way back to Plato. Yet at graduations it's always smiles and giggling and people you don't know lying through their teeth about how good it is and all that jazz, and then the hugging of people you don't know and the hats in the air and the fog horns (seriously, who brings fog horns to a graduation?!) Bah. Anyway, congratulations any graduates out there! You can't do a worse job then your predecessors! I'm not bitter!
#2 MechaPilot May 16, 2010 14:04:59	If you're talking about high school, then I agree that it sucked. I have found college much more of an open and friendly environment however.
#3 EscherEnigma May 16, 2010 14:14:34	If you're talking about high school, then I agree that it sucked. I have found college much more of an open and friendly environment however. Eh, it is better then high school was (it would be hard to be worse, really), but my sentiments about pointless graduation speeches and misplaced optimism still applies.
#4 ADHadh May 16, 2010 16:37:30	That comic is wrong. It can always get worse.
#5 Ragnar_Lodbrok May 16, 2010 17:15:57	Yeah. They could glass the planet.
#6 EscherEnigma May 16, 2010 18:04:28	Yeah. They could glass the planet. No they can't, there's too much water. You'd have to boil the seas first but that would just come back down as rain anyway.
#7 Ragnar_Lodbrok May 16, 2010 18:14:49	Yeah. They could glass the planet. No they can't, there's too much water. You'd have to boil the seas first but that would just come back down as rain anyway. Fine. Glass the landforms then.
#8 ADHadh May 16, 2010 18:29:47	Yeah. They could glass the planet. No they can't, there's too much water. You'd have to boil the seas first but that would just come back down as rain anyway. "Extreemly difficult" does not mean "impossible".
#9 seventhsolitude May 16, 2010 18:49:12	I loved college. I made friends, learned a great deal, and lived in a very sheltered community. The degree opened doors, and affords many opportunities. Life is hard sometimes, I don't think many educators or commencement speakers would deny that. But graduation is a pivotal event in one's life, and the fact that you have received a college degree means you are much less likely to endure financial hardship than someone he hasn't.
#10 death_isthe_begining May 16, 2010 20:23:37	I never had any real problems in high school but by then I was starting grow a beard and I have never been small. I remember middle school was full of arogant idiots (teacher and student alike). The key to dealing with people is to find some common ground to start the conversation on then go from there.
#11 bone_naga May 16, 2010 21:25:24	Courtesy of Wonderella [link]. On that note, that was the worst part of all the graduation ceremonies that I've gone to. All the pointless optimism and nice-sounding words. Everyone there knows that it hasn't been a fun journey, it's been a miserable and tedious 4+ years crowded together mostly with people you're indifferent to at best and hate at worst with maybe a few that are tolerable and don't fill you with frothing rage. And the future never looks bright, it's always looking worse then the past (yay nostalgia!) and it's pretty well documented that "the good ol' times" were better then things are now, all the way back to Plato. Yet at graduations it's always smiles and giggling and people you don't know lying through their teeth about how good it is and all that jazz, and then the hugging of people you don't know and the hats in the air and the fog horns (seriously, who brings fog horns to a graduation?!) Bah. Anyway, congratulations any graduates out there! You can't do a worse job then your predecessors! I'm not bitter! Fortunately for me I skipped my high school graduation and I'm getting my degree online.
#12 Cpt_Micha May 17, 2010 6:07:44	So today I get to drive two hours on a :stormy: day like today to go to my friend's graduation ceremony. (College) So yeah. eyes clock god I used to be up an hour earlier? Ugh.
#13 Klirshon May 17, 2010 7:51:16	Here's another message for you graduates out there. Breaking into your school as your senior prank isn't a good idea. This prank is about as idiotic as stealing a Frisch's Big Boy® statue.
#14 scypio May 18, 2010 14:32:43	I loved college. I made friends, learned a great deal, and lived in a very sheltered community. The degree opened doors, and affords many opportunities. Life is hard sometimes, I don't think many educators or commencement speakers would deny that. But graduation is a pivotal event in one's life, and the fact that you have received a college degree means you are much less likely to endure financial hardship than someone he hasn't. I agree with you. I enjoyed college and actually miss parts of it now (primarily people who are motivated and excited to learn along with actually doing real chemistry). But even if you disliked college, it definately provides more opportunity than someone without a degree.
#15 archyneir May 18, 2010 17:23:45	But even if you disliked college, it definitely provides more opportunity than someone without a degree. Yes & No, but overall college or university was never something I was remotely interested in. I'm already working doing what I love doing best, and getting paid more then quadruple minimum wage to do so, which is more then most diploma-jockies I know are getting. Which is totally messed up, given our societies push for education and the value therein. Cheers!
#16 fff May 18, 2010 21:53:02	Ah, High School. What a blast. I remember, as a senior, meeting this younger guy in the hall and knocking his books from his hands everyday for a little over a week. Then I realised why bullies were bullies. It felt awesome. Not the realising I had become a bully; That part sucked. But the week leading up to it? Oh yeah. And that's why I like playing the pushy defender. Because insults are free.
#17 tsukinousagi May 20, 2010 7:44:27	Listen to the song High School never ends. No seriously, listen to the lyrics carefully. I'm 48 and I know, the song is very true. It was true for me and I was the guy that was not popular, hid in the library and became very smart. It was true for my super jock brother, and it was true for my cheerleader grade looks sister (she was never a cheeleader, but that was her choice not theirs). My message to grads, pick post secondary that leads directly to work you actually expect to get. No don't get post secondary that sounds fun or neat. That history major in University won't be worth **** if you don't plan to write history books and get a job at a school as a teacher, so that means teacher's college. And that means several years teaching grade 3 before you even get thought of for a high school position where you might even get to teach history. Pick wisely. Pick a small business course, learn the ropes of business. Let some other schmuck grad work for YOU.