What are we really doing here ?
One of the best remarks about the Hamilton campus I ever heard I received just a few days into my stay at Hamilton on my Adirondack Adventure trip in August of 2005. Sitting around a campfire in the middle of the woods, my trip leader Pete Holzaepfel '05 noted that, "One of the coolest things about Hamilton is that the campus is always changing. Each semester many people leave, but whether it be people coming back from studying abroad, or Jan admits, or even new faculty, there is always something new to discover or someone interesting you've never met even within a small community like ours." I spent this past semester away from the Hamilton campus, and as I get settled into my (triumphant?) return this spring I find myself thinking about that very notion of change at Hamilton. Not solely on a physical level, but within each person on campus every semester there is always that slight tweaking of perspective that facilitates growth and prompts us to ponder: What are we really doing here?
I spent the majority of my time at home this fall reflecting on that very question. Being in New Jersey (where, contrary to popular belief, thought does occur) allowed me literally to pluck myself out of the whirlwind of life on The Hill and figuratively become an outside observer in my own college education. Though unsure of the direction of many things in my life, my thoughts consistently wandered back to the snowy microcosm that is Hamilton College.
Now that I am back, the idea of change could not be more apparent. Every time I drive up the hill my ears pop, and I constantly make a wrong turn on the dark side road and end up at the dead end. There are booths at McEwen now, and where in God's name is the Tolles Pavilion? I digress.
The ironic thing about change is that it is constant. In whatever way you create or define change, the one absolute is that it is inevitable. Before I took time off from school, a big problem of mine was my reluctance to evolve within and with Hamilton. For me, it took time away from the hill to appreciate its opportunities and to understand the whole point of this place is not just intellectual, but personal growth.
Though the majority of you have been here all year, I encourage everyone to not see this semester as a continuation of the last. Rather, be aware of the changes around us and consider how you can make your own improvements. This physical campus is not stagnant, and you would be doing yourself a disservice not to follow this example.
Whether you are making Knit Happen, sledding on Commons trays, doing independent research, drinking on Tuesday, or sitting in your room playing video games, you are making a choice. Even a lack of initiative is your decision to refrain. There are no parents here to approve or disapprove of your actions. The questions I pose to every person on this campus is: How do your choices reflect on you? Is this the person you want to be? In The Apology, Socrates writes that "the unexamined life is not worth living." In the spirit of change, I encourage everyone to take a good look around. It is apparent that the scenery of the Spring 2008 semester is different, thus, could you use a little spring cleaning yourself?
With that said, I offer a hearty welcome back to students, faculty, and staff. Whatever point this is in your illustrious Hamilton career, it is never too late to learn, grow, change, and most importantly, flourish.
by Lauren Moon