Dean's Graduation Talk: FACING AMBIGUITY IN TIMES OF CERTAINTY

FACING AMBIGUITY IN TIMES OF CERTAINTY 05-18-2019 Warren G. Frisina Well, here we are. I know some of you students are a bit surprised to find yourselves sitting at table celebrating a day that just a few weeks ago you were unsure would ever arrive. From that vantage point, when you were looking up at the looming mountain of end-ofsemester (and really end of college) work, many of you said to yourselves: “Well, this is it. This is where they finally figure out that I’m not as smart as they think I am. I’ll never get it done! (fill in here under “IT” any of the following: final papers, exams, theses, films, experiments, research reports etc.). Some of you went on to think: “Maybe if I call my parents now, they can get their deposit back on that tent they rented for my backyard graduation party?” And yet, here we are, with you on the easy downward slope leading to that happy valley where graduation ceremonies, parties, family members and friends await. Take a moment. Savor the sweetness of what it feels like to be in this position. You’ve done so much and we are so very proud of what you’ve accomplished. We’ve loved working with you and are proud of playing our small part in enriching these past 4 years with HUHC’s courses, honors options, trips, programs, activities, and of course, our free coffee and snacks. Just so you know, HUHC coffee and snacks are lifetime privileges. So, anytime you happen to be heading up Hempstead Turnpike, don’t bother stopping in Starbucks. They won’t even know you. Come see us on the second floor of Axinn. We’ll always welcome you home, and the coffee will always be hot. Now, I’m reminding you to enjoy this moment because very soon your mind will likely begin to turn to whatever is coming next: graduate school, law school, medical school, a new