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Posted 06/09/02
Mary E. Bennett, Co-Valedictorian
Dartmouth College 2002 Commencement
Mr. President, members of the board of trustees, friends and family, honored guests and members of the class of 2002. I am honored to have the opportunity to speak to you on this occasion.
When I was first researching colleges, armed with brochures and news articles, I was sure that there existed some secret formula, some magical combination of size, location, prestige and academic focus that would narrow down the decision to one, rational alternative. Thus, when a tour guide at Duke University explained his decision in terms of stepping onto the campus and realizing instantly that "this is my place, these are my people," I thought that to be a rather flighty way to make such a crucial decision; he seemed to have based a decision that would shape the next four years of his life on a momentary impulse. In March 1998, I visited Dartmouth, in mud season no less, and then his words acquired a ring of truth. I knew instinctively that Dartmouth was perfect for me; even buried under a foot of slush and mud, this campus felt just right.
In hindsight, I realize how natural, how easy, it was to integrate myself into the tradition-filled lifestyle of Dartmouth; almost without realizing it, I began to check blitzmail religiously, to consume EBA's breadsticks as if they were one of the 5 food groups, to shush anyone daring to speak in the Baker Tower Room, and to seriously consider the idea of jumping into an icy Occum pond in the middle of a freezing New England winter. Integrating myself into the busy lifestyle of a Dartmouth student seemed a perfectly normal transition. It was, I now realize, this at-times chaotic, committed and yet balanced Dartmouth lifestyle that struck such a chord on my initial visit.
In the past four years, I have met, and have been inspired by, people who have gracefully balanced commitments of incredible proportions. In just my group of friends, the number and diversity of individual accomplishments are tremendous. Their activities range from training for marathons while taking four classes, founding a major campus publication while completing a double major, to working for the jewelry studio, physics lab and the Office of Residential Life while maintaining a grade point average worthy of summa cum laude.
I would not claim to have achieved that level of balanced dedication, but being a part of such an involved, passionate community has made me more aware of and committed to pursuing my own goals as well as broadened the definition of what those goals are. In the breadth of their accomplishments and pursuits, these same friends have challenged me to perceive the world and my place in it in manners that initially seemed utterly foreign. In the end and given the last four years, I do not regret for a moment my impromptu decision to come here and integrate myself into Dartmouth's hectic yet balanced lifestyle and I would doubt that many of you do either. And so, I would like to thank my parents Richard and Margaret, my friends- and all of you for creating such a dynamic community and above all, good luck with all the challenges, sorrows, and immeasurable opportunities and joys that await you.
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