OPINION: A year of growth and change at Whitworth

Dear Whitworth,

How do I summarize this wild ride that we have shared this year? We had more left and right than the elections and more ups and downs than the stock markets. Let's talk about how we have grown.

When we first returned to classes last fall, we were riding the Obama wave into history. People talked about how the young vote would change the world. That was us, and we did it.

We stepped up to social issues like the genocide in Darfur. We fought pollution by changing our consumption, going trayless and supporting recycling. We even hosted a multitude of programs that raised awareness and money to fight hunger around the world.

This was our moment to shine, and we did ever so bright and beautifully.

Then there was the economy. Nobody wants to talk about it, but I will. It taught us that we are not invincible. Our parents and grandparents lost the retirements that they had dreamt of for decades. Family became more important than ever and we realized that we had been blessed with gifts that were not material; they were the bonds we had with each other.

It allowed us to seek love in our hearts and not money in our life. Whitworth, you taught me that I had been ignorant about religion my whole life. In turn, I feel that I taught some of you whom I had the opportunity to interact with that you had never understood atheists fully.

And through our enlightening conversations we were able to settle our differences and find love and acceptance in our hearts for one another, leaving our conversations everyday more aware of the the world around us.

I want to thank you, Whitworth. For you have changed me in ways I will always hold in the highest of regards. You taught me the importance of community, the significance of modesty and the momentousness that acceptance should play in our interactions.

Sadly, I am off to other opportunities next year in Seattle. You helped me to discover my passion and gift in law and politics that I will pursue at the University of Washington. I am grateful, and because of this, I want to leave you with these words of wisdom from Leo Buscaglia:

"Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God."

We took what God gave us and made lemonade, Whitworth. I will never forget that.

Sincerely,

Ben Garves

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1 comments

Darfur

Mon May 11 2009 01:49

Thanks for stopping our Genocide.

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