Graduation Cliches

I have nothing against graduations and the people who graduate. They have become cherished parts of our traditions. Whether High School or college graduations, they are important rites of passage that mark endings and beginnings.

This past weekend I attended the graduation from college of my best friend's son. It was neat to see him walk across the stage and get his diploma. My wife and I are fortunate (and blessed) to know him and his family since he was born. There's a joy in watching these events, even as I become aware of the movement of time.

You see how easy it is, though, to fall into the graduation clinches, those words, phrases, or sentiments that you can't get through a graduation without hearing. I almost hate to say them here lest I, too, fall into the cliche trap.

• The future is in your hands.
• You have an unprecedented opportunity.
• You can do whatever you want.
• Our generation has messed things up; you can make this a better world.
• Etc.
• Etc.

Of course, cliches become cliches because there is a truth in them. They also become so when they are used over and over. So here I sit: 42 years after high school graduation; 38 after college; 33 and 15 after my master's and doctorate. Time has shown me that while these cliches are true, they are also just words. We say them because we are expected to say them and if we didn't hear them we would feel cheated.

The truth of the matter is most of us won't even know how or even if we have made a difference in the world. Is the world a better place in 2008 than it was in 1970? I don't know. Is it better or worse because I have been here? I hope so. That is where the truth comes to bear. I have been fortunate to know a lot of people who I have had the privilege and joy to make a difference with.

Some of them have told me. Others have shown me. And many I can only guess. Then the phone rings and it is my daughter. She calls to talk to one or both of us almost every day. She keeps in contact. She suggests that we go to the Twins-Yankees game or take a road trip to Milwaukee since we have never been to Miller Park.

Then I know. The cliches are true. But they are true for most of us one person at a time. Those are some of the thoughts that have gone through my mind as I watched one of those people walk across the stage and graduate.

I can only describe it as

• humbling, and
• neat!