Saying goodbye never is easy. You always have so much to say, so much you wish you could have said earlier.
As the Class of 2002 prepares to embark upon a new life journey, The Last Word Project grants graduating students the opportunity to address their classmates with final remarks and words of wisdom.
It's their final chance to be heard and to leave the University with a lasting impression.
"The Last Word Project was begun several years ago by an ambitious, but completely autonomous fourth year," said fourth-year College student Portman Wills, president of the Class of 2002. "She just wanted to collect as many thoughts from her peers as she could."
The project sort of faded away two years ago, but fourth-year College student Chantale Fiebig decided she wanted to restore it after a seminar with Ernest Mead, in which he asked fourth years to reflect upon their years at the University.
So many interesting stories and positive pieces of advice surfaced at the seminar that Fiebig decided to take the idea to Wills.
In less than a week, the Class of 2002 Trustees set up a Web page (www.hoo-02.com/lastword) and began soliciting responses from graduating students.
"Anyone can go onto the Web page and sound off about whatever they want," Wills said. "This is students' final opportunity to yell at the top of their lungs and have the entire University hear it."
Responses that already are posted range anywhere from racism and diversity to study abroad programs to the Christian and Greek communities.
"It's wonderfully balanced between people sounding off on what they've loved and what they've disliked about their experiences here," Wills said.
One student responded with deep "pride and happiness," detailing his love for his friends, the mentors he has found in his professors, the free charge at sporting events, the proximity of the mountains, the V's imprinted on the roads, the Corner, the school's social reputation and honor system, the community of Christians and the pride in the Lawn.
Another student called for change - proactive diversification and desegregation, and a stronger focus on the fine and performing arts.
Another graduating student simply responded with sound words of advice.
"It's a crazy world were livin' in - sometimes you just gotta let it ride"
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