“Stay that close, grow even closer. Dance at one another’s weddings, stand as godparents for each other’s kids. As a Jesuit friend of mine is fond of saying, “the conversation will get richer and the jokes will get funnier.” The conversation among Scranton friends will be a consolation for you down all the days ahead. Don’t waste love.” -Father Scott Pilarz
I didn't fully comprehend these words during first year convocation. Four years later, I finally understand them, and I’m sure you do too.
Love is what helped us come to The University of Scranton, love is what we shared together during these past four years, love is what motivated us to achieve our goals, and love is what will inspire us to continue to go forth and set the world on fire.
Four short years ago, we all closed a chapter of our lives. We were on separate paths and graduating high school. We said goodbye to friends we had known for most of our lives as well as high school sports teams, drama clubs, orchestras and bands, debate teams and more. And then we eagerly and nervously started a new journey.
Love was rooted in the decision to attend The University of Scranton. The love of our family and friends supported us while choosing where to call home during college and provided us with the means to make Scranton a possibility. And while Scranton may have not been everyone's first choice, love motivated the choice to send those of us here, even if we couldn't see it at the time.
All of us were on different paths and starting a new chapter, but our paths converged as we became the Class of 2016 at The University of Scranton. Throughout the past four years, we all were characters in this chapter of each other's stories, and we'll always have that in common no matter what our futures hold. Four years ago, we gathered as strangers and in a few short weeks, we will gather as family for the last time as undergraduate students.
The awkwardness and shyness during introductions and icebreakers faded quickly as we scattered to make friends and joined as many clubs as we could. Each year came with trials as well as accomplishments, but love was always the constant. When we failed a test, got in a fight with a friend or experienced heartbreak, we were there for each other. When we turned 21, got an internship or job, or had a big game, we were there also there for each other. Those are all done out of love for one another.
But what's even more significant, are the little moments in between. You know those 4 a.m. heart to hearts, random dance parties and the countless meals? Those are where life happened and those will be the memories we look back on fondly. Those are the moments I saw love between people, even when they didn't realize that's what it was.
I saw love in the person who surprised his friend with coffee in the library. I saw love in the "bros" who hugged each other at the end of each semester and the l leaping embraces between groups of girls whenever we returned from break. I saw love in the smiles and the laughter that were always abundant at Scranton. I saw love whenever somebody held a door open when they didn't really have to, and I saw love in the strangers who would help pay for a meal for someone who unknowingly ran out of flex.I saw love in all the times people went to an event their friend was in involved in even if it wasn't really anything they were interested in. And I saw love in all the times people went out of their way to help one another.
Love is what motivated ourselves to succeed during college as well. Some of us came in knowing for certain what we wanted to do with our lives, while others explored their options. In the end, we chose a passion and our love for our majors pushed us through clinicals, labs, research, student teaching, grammar exams, business presentations, math competitions and more. Sure, we all complained at times and thought of giving up. We questioned if we were doing the right thing if we did poorly on an assignment. But in the end, our love for what we all chose to do got us through four years of challenging academics.
And now, four years later, that love will help us continue to pursue the Jesuit ideal of setting the world on fire. We were there to pick each other up when one fell down, and that Scranton love we found will help us pick each other up even when we're traveling separate paths. That love will help us excel professionally and personally, and it will help us make a positive impact on the souls we encounter down the road.
We're all different things: doctors, nurses, scientists, researchers, analysts, accountants, managers, media experts, marketers, writers, journalists, teachers, politicians, philosophers, etc. But we're all also one thing.
We are and will always be Royals.
Once again, we come to a point in our lives were we say goodbye and close a chapter. The people we've known for four years feel like family we've known forever. We leave behind clubs, teams and communities that helped us grow and hold a special place in our hearts. We leave behind a home that we will one day return to and reminisce about the lifetime of memories we made so quickly.
The love that has been the writer of this journey is something we will never say goodbye to.
That love is what will we'll still have at each other's weddings and what our kids will share when they meet. Love is what we'll have when we call each other to catch up and what we'll rekindle when we meet up at alumni events. This chapter is ending, but that doesn't mean our Scranton stories are over. Love will write the chapters to come, so whatever you do, don't waste it. Don't waste love.
