Raise your coffee mugs, water bottles, or Diet Cokes for a toast —
To the rogue seeds, who are blazing trails on their own.
To the first generation college students, who are navigating challenging waters their parents haven’t charted
To the distracted student, who is struggling to adjust to her new medication
To the student of color who was asked to give the “African American Perspective” in his history class
To the student who intervened when his friend was being sexually harassed at a party
To the student who declared a major in theater in her junior year, because she likes to pretend that she’s someone else
To the “dumb jock” student athlete who earned a 4.0 each semester
To the student leader whose actions are big, but his voice is quiet, often going unrecognized
To the student who struggles to complete assignments because she does not have a smartphone or the internet
To the student who posts on YikYak, hoping someone will notice him
To the student who is battling alcoholism, but continues to blend in with “college life”
To the student who may need to drop out, because his parents make “too much money” to receive financial aid
To the student who acts out in class, because things have been hard, and she just wants someone to ask if she’s okay
To the full-time workers, parents, and caregivers who have taken on higher education as a part-time job
To students who have been scared, who have struggled, who have overcome, and who will continue to triumph over life’s great obstacles:
I see you. And you are going to be just fine.
Many cheers to you.
