Features
Senior Reflection: Time, Hootie and the Blowfish and The Best Sandwich at Hamilton
By Reuben Dizengoff ’15
February 27, 2015
Reflections allow for introspection.
First, the college experience is only possible because of the sacrifices and devotion of many. To my family: thank you for your unconditional love as I pursue my dreams. To the members of the faculty, staff and administration who are the foundational fabric of my college experience: our college’s namesake is widely quoted as saying “those who stand for nothing fall for anything.” Your tireless effort and unwavering commitment to upholding Hamilton’s vision has empowered me to stand for making Hamilton a better place today than it was yesterday. To my friends, both new and old, and to my fellow students: what follows is for you to ponder.
Of late, I have spent a lot of time mulling over time and its relationship to an experience. “Time,” the aptly titled Hootie and the Blowfish song, offers an answer worth examining. “Time, the past has come and gone/The future’s far away/And now only lasts for one second, one second.” This sagacious lyric can be interpreted as calling for an awareness of the now; a devotion to the present. Importantly, those million “now” moments that have made my college career have always been coupled with what my mother always called the most important grade in school: E for effort. In other words, the time that you are afforded is valuable, so use it judiciously. I wish to stress the importance of applying effort to moments where time sometimes seems to rapidly disappear, because it will pay extraordinary dividends.
I believe that my experience at Hamilton has been defined by the application of my faculties in each and every one of those moments. I would argue that the interconnected nature of the college experience necessarily creates a place where worlds collide, schedules mesh flawlessly and the best moments are not scheduled through a Doodle poll. For me, Hamilton is a shared experience where your time and my time overlap; where the setting, whether it be a class discussion, a playing field, a stage or a dinner table, combined with our shared effort define that experience. In these moments, recognize the idyllic nature of your surroundings, engage your challenges with a positive outlook, and be proud of the effort you applied. Where else besides college do you get the opportunity to play one of the highest levels of sports? When, besides college, do you get to take part in a professional level production? Where else do you live, eat, debate and contemplate with people who are so eager and competent to learn? It is only at Hamilton where your commitment to the betterment of our community reciprocates itself in those around you. Only at Hamilton do you find mentors who both buttress and ally themselves to your goals. Therefore, I urge you to keep this in mind: make the most of these opportunities. Many “now” moments pass you by, and by no means have I been perfect in applying myself to all these moments. But, I encourage you to think bigger; college itself is a giant “now” moment.
I will leave you with advice I share every year during Adirondack Adventure, something that I believe exemplifies the application of effort in a “now” moment. When life gets tough, grab a bagel, put peanut butter on one side, jelly on the other, add some Nutella, cheddar cheese and some meatstick, smash it together and enjoy. And make sure to lick your fingers after you’re done.