Many congratulations, class of 2020. My senior year at Georgetown was also darkened by a bizarre external event–the September 11th terrorist attacks. An impossibly delightful college experience was cut short; excitement and joy were replaced by dread in an instant. This horrible, unseen force would be the end of us all; even if we survived, our prospects would be grim: no jobs, no happiness, nothing but debt and despair. It felt like the end of the world. It wasn’t. Chances are, this will not end the world, either. Please ignore those who say “Things will never be the same!” and “It will only get worse!” (These doom enthusiasts are always among us). You have many beautiful years ahead. There will be ups and downs no matter what choices you make; with luck the bright moments will outnumber the dark ones. Don’t worry if you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing; nobody else does, either. Special congratulations to first-generation college students from working class families like mine. My warmest wishes to you all.
-Casey A., SFS 2002