I've reflected on my time at DePauw and I've compiled a list of six important pieces of advice, listed in no particular order. As some of you will note, most of these are things that I don't always do myself. What makes me qualified to give anyone advice then? Absolutely nothing. Here we go.
Leave this campus, or at least leave your building. DePauw encases us not just in a bubble, but in a mental suck. Remember your first roommate or your friend in your mentor group? Catch up with them this weekend instead of seeing which of your current roommates can eat the most pizza.
Hating people is ill-advised, but if you're going to not like someone for whatever reason, at least do it openly. Don't talk down to them or about them. Simply agree to not interact with each other.
Understand that you can't make everyone care about the things you care about. There are people who will not change their minds and there will be people who will not care about whatever you hold dear. They are not being rude - they're just different.
If you're going to be in a greek organization, understand the power you wield. Most of us are remarkably privileged and can do a lot more good than running a relay race in high heels. Instead of just raising money, raise awareness. Instead of just writing checks, write pamphlets.
Recognize destructive behavior in yourself and others, whether it be substance abuse or otherwise. A good friend of mine joked with me recently that DePauw prepares us for functioning alcoholism above many other things. While hyperbole, there is a kernel of truth in it. If you see it happening to a friend, speak up. If you think it's happening to you, sit down and think before you hurt yourself or others. It's terrible dealing with the consequences of a chain of stupid mistakes.
Remember where you came from. In 1997, Fred Rogers (better known as Mr. Rogers) accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Emmys. He asked his audience - a packed theater full of extremely accomplished actors, actresses and technical crew - to take ten seconds out of the night to remember "the people who have helped you become who you are." He then paused for ten seconds, timing on his watch. At the end of ten completely silent seconds, he said, "Whomever you've been thinking about, how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they've made." We would do well to remember that we, for all our victories and accolades, are merely individuals.
Furthermore, we are shaped by those who come in contact with us. Every one of us made a choice to come to DePauw. For me, my favorite English teacher encouraged me to come here because he knew what this place had done for his sons. And now, four years later, I'm still talking to him, telling him of my new job and planning to meet up for beer and a burger before I head off to Adulthood. We are a remarkably gifted people, us DePauw students, trained every day how to think critically and be good skeptics. But you are a whole, slowly becoming greater than the sum of your parts, and the parts have been contributed by so many different people. Please make sure that those whom you think have done good for you know it.
Follow my advice or don't - most days I can't even listen to myself. But I hope, in some small way, I've made you think about what it means to be here at DePauw and how we need to use our time. Other than that, that's all for me. I think I've said more than enough as it is.