“How do you feel about graduating?!” It’s the senior year equivalent to New Student Orientation’s “Name/hometown/major?” We all have our own canned responses, but none of them quite contain the nuances that four years on the Hilltop entail.
For those of us who bleed Hoya Blue, graduation can be a bittersweet time, full of last-minute parties, nostalgic Facebook back-stalking and late-night heart-to-hearts. However, Georgetown has been more of a struggle for some of us. With appreciation and respect, I want to dedicate this piece to those of my classmates whose undergraduate careers have come at a cost and those of you who have worked to make Georgetown a better place than you found it.
Don’t get me wrong — while my time at Georgetown has often been difficult, it has also been invaluable. My academic learning has been complemented by the development of life skills and self-awareness that comes about only through experience. I came to the Hilltop as an eager yet shy, little Midwestern boy who had almost no concept of what he was getting himself into. And while I came to Georgetown for the academics, I stayed for the uphill battles of self-discovery, community formation and social justice that I found on campus.
Much of what I have learned about myself and the world around me has been in opposition to the institution.
I learned about classism and my working-class identity with each unpaid internship I turned down in favor of paid manual labor, each doctor’s appointment I couldn’t make because of issues with my insurance and each networking event I skipped out of sheer discomfort.
I learned about cissexism and my genderqueerness from every professor who thought I was two different people, from every evil eye and snide remark in the common room, the bathroom and the lawn, and every explicitly discriminatory statement from administrators.
I learned about ableism and my anxiety, patriarchy and my survivor status, racism and my white privilege, heterosexism and my asexuality. Learning these things about myself and the world has been instrumental, though the means of learning has not always been affirming.
Therefore, I’d like to take a moment and recognize all of the incredible people at Georgetown. For all the first-generation college students. For everyone whose English was not “academic” enough. For everyone whose necessary accommodations were considered superfluous. For everyone who took a leave of absence. For everyone whose undergraduate career was more than four years but kept at it. For everyone who had to work to support themselves or their family. For everyone who visited Counseling and Psychiatric Services or Health Services.
For the underpaid and overworked staff in Student Affairs. For everyone whose denomination is not accommodated by Campus Ministry. For every non-traditional student. For everyone who works in maintenance and food service. For all the student parents. For everyone for whom a broken elevator was more than just a mild inconvenience. For all the veterans. For everyone who filed a bias-related incident report. For all the survivors of sexual assault on campus. For everyone who was tokenized or excluded. For everyone who put off that paper to support a friend in need. For all of you: Thank you for everything you have done to make this campus a more just, affirming, supportive and empowering place.
You are more than just my anecdotes; you are the protagonists of your own stories. Your experiences and lessons do not end here. You will continue to face challenges and celebrations — some new, some you thought were long over. Many people will say that after graduation, we all come out equal with our Georgetown diplomas in hand. These people are wrong.
Not everyone’s annual $60,000 bought the same knowledge or skills or experience. I therefore encourage each of you to make the most of your unique Georgetown experiences — the meaningful friendships you’ve fostered, the challenges you’ve overcome, the skills you’ve developed, the knowledge you’ve gained.
Let these inspire your future work and help you in empowering others and spreading justice. I am so proud of everything you have already accomplished, and I can’t wait to see where your futures take you.
J. Capecchi is a senior in the College.