Mary (Lederman) Sutton
Major: English/Secondary Education
Current Job: Writer at 3M
Dear fellow Bonnies,
I remember my senior year. I remember my dorm (Francis), I remember the basketball games (friends and I road-tripped to Milwaukee to see us play in the NIT), I remember Commencement and stuffing tissues in the sleeves of my gown because I was going to miss this place.
Unfortunately, your senior year was cut short by forces beyond your control.
Instead of dwelling on that, I urge you to remember the 3.5 years of good memories, whether they be from dorm life, basketball games, strolling the campus, participating in the myriad activities and clubs, or classes.
You now join a strong, vibrant community of alumni. For the rest of your life, you’ll be somewhere – anywhere – and see that brown and white. Maybe it’ll be a T-shirt, or a cap, or a bumper sticker. The person wearing it may be your age, younger, or older. It won’t matter. You will be instantly connected by a cry of, “Hey, I’m a Bonnie, too!”
I took my son to a watch party for the A-10 Championship last year here in Pittsburgh. There were maybe 20 others in the group, ranging from those who had graduated a couple years ago to a gentleman who had graduated in the ’50s. There were no awkward silences, or “breaking the ice.” We cheered, groaned, and when the final 3-point attempt rimmed out, we all let loose a collective sigh. I told my son, who was at that point starting to think about colleges, “This is what you’d be getting in to.”
Your four years has provided you with an excellent education. I know this, because I’ve been prepared for every job I’ve ever had. But it’s given you something more. A sense of what it means to be part of the human race. Our responsibilities – to each other, the less fortunate, to the planet. Trust me, it’s not something you get everywhere.
I hope Dr. DePerro is able to figure out a way to bring you back for a ceremony to celebrate your achievements. I hope you are able to attend. And I hope you bring tissues – because when you hear those words, “I pronounce you sons and daughters of Bonaventure forever,” I bet you tear up, just a little.
Welcome to the alumni – and go Bona’s!
Recent Comments