Savannah Ziegelbauer's speech
Savannah Ziegelbauer
"Students, faculty, administration and staff, welcome to the class of 2008. Call it what you will, I'm willing to bet that most of those here today are fifth-years, super seniors or have taken a victory lap. I prefer to tell people that graduating in four years is like leaving the party at 11, and Badgers don't leave the party at 11. We stick around until the very end, until the beer runs out. Well, my friends, the keg that was tapped four or more years ago has run dry, and now it is time to quite literally sober up.
But let's not let the nagging question of what on earth are we going to do now that college is over dampen our spirits. Today, we can put the grad school applications on hold, take a break from the job search, forget about the uncertainty of the economy and savor our sweet success. As we sit in our caps and gowns, knowing that the inevitable is upon us, we are at a loss for words.
But that is okay. For once, there is no set course we are expected to follow, but rather, we are left to clear our own path in the terrain of possibilities that are all exciting, frightening and thrilling at once. For all of us, change is something we have dealt with for our entire lives, though probably the most profound changes have occurred since we opened our acceptance letters to UW-Madison. On that day, we anticipated what the thrill, honor and delight of being a Badger would be like. The State Street Halloweens, the Badger Game Days, the Mifflin Street Block Parties. Our parents anticipated the poor diets, the endless partying and the lack of sleep. But when our parents look at us today, they don't see the same kids they moved into the dorms four years ago. They see what the world sees: young men and women ready to leave their mark on the world.
Upon our arrival at UW-Madison, we've undergone extraordinary transformation in innumerable ways. I present to you three places on campus that are not only symbolic of the memories we've made with our friends, but are also a reminder as to how our education and experiences have helped us grow intellectually, socially and responsibly, and how we can apply these life lessons to life post-UW.
Spot No. 1: Bascom Hill. Walking up Bascom Hill just might be one of the most exhausting trips to class, even for the physically fit. By the time you reach the top, you are sweating so profusely and breathing so heavily, all you can do is hope you don't run into anyone you're trying to impress. I still remember me on a campus tour, and the guide was saying that a hike up Bascom Hill burns the caloric equivalent of one M & M. Not a bag of M & Ms like I would have guessed, but a measly one single M & M.
I didn't tell you all of this because I wanted you to know that sometimes my only workout for the day consisted of walking to class in Ingraham or Social Sciences. Rather, I would like you to think of Bascom Hill as a representation of how much better we have become at climbing hills. It hasn't always been easy. There have been times we have become too fixated on trying to catch up to those at the top of the hill, and we've fallen. We've failed exams, suffered through broken hearts and have been rejected from organizations, majors and the bars when we weren't 21. But with the help of our peers, professors, advisors and better fake IDs, we've picked ourselves up and climbed to the top of the hill with abandon. And now that we have finally reached the top, the feeling of accomplishment is so rewarding, it has made the long and sometimes unbearable trek worthwhile.
Spot No. 2: Camp Randall. It's almost awe-inspiring to witness the sea of red and white, students and alumni walking in unison to Camp Randall Stadium on a crisp Saturday morning, rooting for the Badgers. Yet if we've learned anything this past season, it's that not every game is won, even if you're favored to win or have home field advantage. There will always be winning seasons and losing season, but sometimes it's just about being there to cheer on the team, creating memories, learning the cheers, united for a common cause. The Badger game days at Camp Randall have taught us to be passionate and spirited. Write a book, start a social movement, teach a kid to read, campaign for a cause you believe in with all your heart. Don't ever give up on the things you love to do, even if at the time it seems like you're only going to lose. Sometimes all you need are the cheers of your No. 1 fans to pull through in the final seconds of the game to help you score the winning touchdown.
Spot No. 3: State Street. In the haste of trying to make it to class on time, or in the frenzy of the bar scene on a Friday night, it's easy to forget that State Street connects the university to the Capitol. State Street is the path between the years of being nurtured with knowledge and life lessons, and now as we take our last steps, we approach our opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. We've questioned the world and challenged the status quo and elected the 44th president based solely on the premise of change. We don't see the world as static, but as something we can revolutionize if we only push hard enough.
They say hindsight is 20/20. Maybe as you sit here today, you're thinking about the things you would change if you could do it all over. Maybe you would have spent more time with your friends and less time with Helen C. White, or for that matter, maybe you wish you would have spent more time memorizing your lecture notes and less time memorizing the nightly bar specials. But the fact is, we must console in the decisions we've made over the course of our college careers and leave with no regrets. Today we begin the next phase of our lives, and it's time to let go of everything that has become comfortable and routine. Good-bye sweatpants, good-bye bacon night, good-bye late-night Ian's pizza, good-bye all-nighters, good-bye never-ending campus construction, good-bye midterms, papers and exams.
Finally, while so much of the world around us is continually changing, there are other things that will always remain constant. The love and support of our parents, siblings, spouses, partners, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and grandparents will never change. And it is because of their encouraging words and confidence that we are sitting here in these seats today. Graduates, please stand and give those people a round of applause, for they deserve just as much praise as we do today. Thank you and congratulations."
