By Matt Bisanz
It’s getting to be that time of year again. Only 15 or so more days left in the semester before it will all be over. Sure, there are papers still to write, and finals to cram for, but I had one other last thing to do: write my final column for The Chronicle. Over the last three-and-a-half years, I have written 56 articles for campus publications and it has been an honor to have my name attached to such an august group of editors and fellow writers. Today, however, I would like to speak about some of the bigger questions in life.
In my time here, I have been privileged to have a wide variety of experiences. I have gotten to know many people in many settings and do many jobs in many different fields. One of those jobs was throwing out certain archives from the 1960s that were no longer needed. As I sorted through the filing cabinet, I saw that for nearly ten years, the exact same report was prepared. Obviously, it was the same clerk pecking away at the same typewriter. I often wonder what he or she was like, what did they do in life, did they enjoy their work, what were their regrets, etc. Some months back, The Chronicle published a reprint of a Dutchette from the 1950s. I tracked her down on the Internet, and found out she had never been married, despite being described as a very attractive and nice person. What is her life story? Again, was she happy in life? These are all unanswered questions I’ll never know.
There are some things I do know, though. In my time here, I’ve gotten to know one of the sandwich makers in the Student Center Café. We have talked about her children and my career goals. Most people probably couldn’t put a face to her name or even know her name, but I can say that in 20 years, odds are I’ll remember her more than the robed people on stage at commencement. You see, having a big title or a huge office doesn’t mean I know a person; rather it’s when there is a personal connection with an individual that I can really call them a friend.
One of my side-hobbies is editing Wikipedia. I am a administrator for the site; I make sure things keep running smoothly. A couple weeks ago, I came across an editor who, over the last four years, had made over 19,000 improvements to articles. In that time, under a dozen people have noticed he even exists. Compared to the legions of people seeking to point out how every edit they make is the greatest edit ever, he just keeps moving along doing something he enjoys.
My point is that 20 years after you graduate, odds are, no one at the University will remember you or what you did in your time here. Seventy years after your death, it’s a near certainty that not a person on the earth will tell a story of your activities or accomplishments. Why then do we all seek to do what we think will please others or make them like us more? If all glory is fleeting, why do we do things we do not like, just so others approve of us?
You only go through life once, and there are no second chances for missed opportunities. Rather than spending a life doing things you hate to please others, you need to focus on what satisfies your own drive. This does not mean to ignore others or to be selfish, but to make sure you’re doing things for the right reason. Do something because you know it’s right, not because you think others will agree it’s right. Pick a career you truly enjoy doing, not one that you think is socially acceptable, or what your parents want. Even now, pick a major or club activity that you find interesting, not one that you think other people find interesting. Only then, can you look back on your life and be truly happy.
Matt Bisanz is a graduate student. You may e-mail him at [email protected].