Senior Week: The Vanderbilt I know
Allow me this interlude . . . The week is senior week here at Vanderbilt. Commencement activities start winding up on Wednesday, which by the way you can follow on Twitter. There’s a story unfolding at this year’s graduation that reminds me why I love this time of year, and why Vandy is a special place to me.
It is an annual debate I hold with myself: which season is greater, Fall or Spring. Across the world, Fall takes no more majestic shape than on a college campus. While the rest of the world finds autumn as a winding down of the year, at college, it is a starting up of the academic season.
Spring is the true time of renewal, of new green leaves and fresh sprung flowers. Here, it is the time of commencement, a going forth into the world. As many of you know, I have been at Vanderbilt going on three years now and have fallen in love with its charm. This week I have come across a story of a graduating senior that seems to encapsulate why I think Vandy is such a unique place. It’s the story of graduating senior Kelly Finan, and her long and inspirational path to this week’s commencement. It represents the Vanderbilt I have come to know and is well worth the time to read it.
Congratulations to Kelly and all graduating seniors on your own accomplishments going forth from Vanderbilt.
May 5th, 2009
What an inspiring story! I have tears in my eyes as I write this. As a mom “trolling” this blog, I have only been looking for wait-list items, but I would encourage anyone who sees this entry to click on the link for graduating senior Kelly Finan and be encouraged about the strength of the Vanderbilt community.