The Pendulum
COMMENCEMENT EDITION
Saturday, May 24, 2008 / Page 5
The Pendulum spoke with several
seniors and members of the Elan com
munity to collect advice to share with
graduates of the Class of 2008. Mentors
shared their favorite events from the past
four years, their hopes for the graduates
and what they wish they knew when they
graduated. They shared what they would
miss most, something they wish they
would have done while at Elon and some
thing they recommend to
incoming or current students.
Compiled by Andie Diemer, Laura Wainman and
Jessi Dexheimer
From your mentors:
Ernie Nestor, Men’s Head Basketball Coach
Q: What advice would you give this
graduating class?
It is so important that you move in a forward
direction even though the future seems so
uncertain. It is the uncertainty that will call on your
most creative efforts to help you be successful in the
coming years.
Nothing is guaranteed. You must be prepared to
compete for your place in our society. To do that,
find something that not only interests and rewards
you, but something that summons up your passions
and excites you.
It is now your time to make a change in your
status. While you may return to school, your days
as a undergraduate student are over and moving
forward into a new life status is necessary. Your
parents have helped you get here and they will
continue to support you. You must demonstrate to
them what they have taught you by how you live your
life.
Go forward and enjoy the future knowing that
each day you have ownership over your destiny.
Advice for tomorrow from a few familiarfaces
Jerry Tolley, Elon Mayor Emeritus and
Director of Annual Giving & Elon Society
Q: What do you know now that you wish you
had known when you had graduated?
The importance of building a network of lifelong
acquaintances and friends who can help you grow
in your chosen profession. Also the importance of
knowing that life is a continuous learning experience
and to succeed in life you must always be willing to
learn new things and to embrace change.
Q: What event from the past four years is most
memorable to you?
The opening of the Koury Business Center and
the Law School, the performance of “The Phantom of
the Opera” and many other theater productions, the
convocations with outstanding speakers, the annual
dance marathon and our highly successful athletics
teams.
Q: What advice would you give this
graduating class?
Always have a positive outlook on life and view
your cup as half full and not half empty. And by all
means, always find a way to turn every “setback” into
a “comeback.” Remember the old Chinese proverb:
“The greatest glory in life is not never falling down
but getting up every time you do fall down.”
Q: What do you hope that these graduates will
take with them from their time at Elon?
I would like to see every Elon graduate take with
them a continued thirst for knowledge and adventure
as well as the many memories and friendships they
have made at Elon.
Remember above all, you will leave Elon, but Elon
will never leave you.
Jay Anhorn, Director of Greek Life
Q: What do you know now that you wish you
had known when you had graduated?
Being in college was much easier than graduate
school or my first job. You realize that your advisers
and professors may have held you accountable or
have been harsh on you, but that it was for a good
reason. Once you are out of Elon, you are on your
own, and the only one looking out for you, is you.
Unfortunately, you cannot appeal a decision or look
for extra credit.
Q: What event from the past four years is most
memorable to you?
My favorite memory has got to be watching Dr.
Lambert get on stage at Elonthon this year and
dance.
Q: What advice would you give this
graduating class?
Remember that everything you learned inside and
outside the classroom is what you made of it. Elon
gave you the tools, but you decided which ones to use
and how to use them. And don't forget to come back
and visit.
Q: What do you hope that these graduates will
take with them from their time at Elon?
From a Greek Life stand point, 35 percent of
you will look back and realize that if it wasn't for
your involvement in a fraternity or sorority, your
lives would have been totally different. Most of you
remember realizing how important your particular
organization was to you, but I bet now as you
leave, you see that you were all just one big family.
Remember that Greek Life did not make you who you
are today, but you are Greek Life and you made Elon
a better place being part of it.
From your fellow seniors:
What is
something
you will
miss?
What is
something
you wish
you could
have done?
Crystal
Grandison
Being a part of
the “Elon bubble,’
always seeing
familiar faces
wherever you
go. Lighthouse,
Cantina and
watching people
trip over bricks.
Studied abroad
more and not
worry so much
about things
because
everything will
always get done.
Johnathan
Hatch
I will miss all
my friends,
both graduating
seniors and
underclassmen,
who 1 won't see
anymore. Also,
1 will miss not
having much
responsibility
at all outside of
class.
I wish I would
have gone out
more when I
didn’t have
anything to do
the next day. Soon
that lifestyle will
be frowned upon.
Jake
Emerson
Nikki
Allem
Allison
Barbieri
Charles
Adams
Leigh
Sassone
Living in the
bubble.
I wish I would
have come to
Elon from day
one instead of
having to transfer
in. I feel like 1
screwed myself
out of three great
semesters of
college!
I’ll miss being
able to walk
or drive to my
friends’ places
in less than five
minutes, and
I’ll really miss
reunions with
friends who
studied abroad
for a semester in
Denmark with
me.
I wish I would
have gone to
Arizona Pete’s
(country line-
dancing place
in Greensboro)
before my last
few weeks here.
It is so fun.
I will definitely
miss seeing
Anonymous and
3 Day Weekend
play at the various
local venues.
Their music is the
soundtrack to my
four years at Elon.
I wish that I would
have studied
abroad for an
entire semester.
My winter term
in Brazil was
amazing, but way
too short.
I am going to
miss all of my
friends and
having the
entire world at
my fingertips.
I wish that I had
been involved
in more
organizations
on campus.
I would have
loved to have
been involved
in a service
organization.
The biggest thing
I will miss is
having all of my
friends not even
five minutes
away from me
at all times.
Elon is a small
community and
everyone lives so
close, it will be
sad when we are
all so far away.
Take more
winter term
trips. Although 1
went away for a
semester and a
winter term, they
keep adding more
and more cool
trips that I would
love to participate
in
What is
something
you would
recommend
to incoming
or current
students?
Don’t take
anything for
granted. You’re in
college: Have fun,
be smart and do
big things. Your
time here is going
to fly by ... live it
up.
Go out and meet
as many people
as possible. Do
everything you
can to learn from
others about
their cultures,
lifestyles, where
they're from
and what they
consider to be the
norm.
Get involved in
organizations
and activities that
are new to you,
but don't stretch
yourself too thin
by being overly
involved. Choose
two or three
things that you're
really passionate
about and give it
your all.
Take advantage
of the fact that
Elon has an
amazing theater
arts department.
Go see every
musical or play,
and definitely
go see the dance
concerts.
Don’t take
yourself too
seriously, and
enjoy these short
years. Ten years
from now you will
remember the
late nights spent
procrastinating
with your best
friends — not the
grade you got on
a test.
Just enjoy
every second
here because
it will all be
over before
you know it.
Use every service
Elon has to offer
because there
is a lot. At Elon,
people’s entire
jobs are dedicated
to helping you
as a student. In
the real world,
no one’s job is to
help you. Take
advantage of it
now while you
can.