itakewithmememoriesofuniversityholidayswhichneverseemedtoapplytograduatestudents.irememberspendingmanyafallbreakandpresident'sdayholidaywithmyfellowgradstudentsinalldaymeetingsbroughttousbythecomputersciencedepartment.
itakewithmememoriesofexamsthatseemeddesignedmoretotestenduranceandperseverancethanmasteryofthesubjectmatter.imanagedtoescapetakinganyclassesthatfeaturedinfamous24-hour-take-homeexams,butrememberthesufferingofmylessfortunatecolleagues.andwhatdoctoralstudentcouldforgetthepainandsufferingonemustenduretosurvivethequalifyingexams?
itakewithmethememoryoftheseven-minuterule,whichalwaysseemedtobeanacceptableexcuseforbeingtenminuteslateforanythingoncampus,butwhichdoesn'tseemtoapplyanywhereelseigo.
itakewithmethememoryoffridayafternoonacmhappyhours,knownnotforkegsofbeer,butratherbowlsofrainbowsherbetpunch.overtheseveralyearsthatiattendedthesehappyhourstheyenjoyedvaryingdegreesofpopularity,oftenproportionaltothequalityandquantityoftheaccompanyingrefreshments-buttherewasalwaystherainbowsherbertpunch.
itakewithmememoriesofpurpleparkingpermits,thewestcampusshuttle,checkingmypendaflex,over-duelibrarybooks,tryingtoprintfromcec,lunchesondelmar,friendswhosleptintheiroffices,miniaturegolfinlopatahall,thegreenwaytalk,divisioniiibasketball,andtryingtoconvincedeanrusselthatyetanotherengineeringschoolruleshouldbechanged.
finally,iwouldliketoconclude,notwithamemory,butwithsomeadvice.whatwouldagraduationspeechbewithoutalittleadvice,right?anyway,thisadvicecomesintheformofaversedeliveredtothe1977graduatingclassoflakeforestcollegebytheodoreseussgeisel,betterknowntotheworldasdr.seuss-here