Graduation Musings
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.
And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.
If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking, and don’t settle.
As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”
-Steve Jobs
Convocation was great yesterday, albeit filled with mixed emotions. One thing I found lacking was an inspirational speech. You always here about them having amazing guest speakers coming in at more prestigious schools. I know that I couldn’t really expect that at the University of Manitoba, but I’m still a little disappointed. And so I found some speeches given by the greats to people who reached the same point that I’m at in my life - graduation from university with a focus on Computer Science. The quote above is from one of those speeches, from Steve Jobs speaking to some MIT graduates. University was a huge focus of my life in the past years, and now that it’s over I’m looking to the future - searching for what my great work will be. Steve’s words were so powerful to me because, as a recent graduate in a specialized program, the next logical step that everyone expects you to take is to slip into an existing job in the field…which I personally feel is like all too often compromising on your own dreams and will lead to, quite possibly, a less happy life. Instead I like to view the past 5 years as an amazing training time in which we were able to find ourselves and focus on developing ourselves. We learned a lot in our time in university, both in the classroom and out, and to stop dreaming on graduation would seem such a waste.
So think hard recent graduates, make goals and chase them because now is the time. Take chances now or risk never taking them at all. Always challenge yourself and never stop dreaming. (And if I ever stop please light a firecracker under my ass and let me know about it.)
Follow one of Bob Marley’s mottos: “Live the life you love. Love the life you live.” Whatever that may be.
