20/20 Vision
By Greg Nickel
There are many contrasting experiences in life.
Furthermore, every one of those experiences has the potential to
teach us new ideas and fresh ways to look at things. College is
more than just one of
those experiences. College is something else completely. But
what does it show us?
Think back to your first semester as a college student.
When you ponder some of the things that may have been going
through your mind the conclusion can be drawn that they were…
juvenile. Maybe you wondered how close this would be to your
high school classes. Maybe you wondered if that girl/boy sitting
next to you was also silently thanking themselves for choosing
that seat. Or maybe you just silently prayed that the professor
would not pick you out to answer the first question. All of
these were legitimate thoughts to have as a freshman or
sophomore. But what has progression taught you?
As you trek further along the pathway that is college,
your blurred vision begins to clear. You begin to see who you
are, what you like, and where you want to go in life. Dreams are
born and at the same time they are crushed.
Reality is… realized, and adulthood must be embraced.
Friends are made and lost, but one thing remains: we learn.
So, what have you learned… not in the confinement of the
classroom, but in the infinitely opportunistic environment of
the college campus. Have you found that dream? Have you met
those lifelong friends? Have you realized reality? If the answer
is no, time is not up. Go out and solve the code. There’s a good
chance that when you do, your vision will be perfect.
(Photo by Mackenzie Hautala. This picture was taken on the evening of Julia Sumnicht's funeral. Julia was a student here at UW-L. In the clouds, you can see the outline of an eye with an eye brow as Julia looks down at her family and friends.)