Monday, May 09, 2022
Graduation! A brief personal note
This past Saturday I attended the graduation ceremonies at our college. Commencement at [redacted]* is always a big event, quite formal and very fun. This year's commencement speaker was Jordan Peterson. Peterson is a big draw, and many alumni returned to hear him, hence I met many of my former students. This was a very happy thing for me. (See photos below.) Peterson himself proved to be a gripping speaker. My impression of him is that he is intense (that's for sure) and high strung (my guess, I did not meet him). I was pretty much on the edge of my seat during his address. His message can be summed up simply, I think: "Whenever you're presented with an important choice, your alternatives will be either the high road or the low road. The low road will take you to self aggrandizement, nihilism, and despair. The high road is the path of self respect and service to others and life. Take the high road."
Intense: Peterson seemed to me to be speaking from his heart, not from prepared notes. He began slowly, warmed up, occasionally got sidetracked as he explained some tangential digression, a few times he nearly cried. He spoke honestly, and it was good. I learned something.
The other events were lovely, but most important was being with my students and former students. I'm astonished at how accomplished they are and what they are doing and will do in the future. In this year's class, six or seven are going to strong Ph.D. and master's programs in economics, a similar number to top law programs, one was just commissioned as a USMC officer, and the rest are going to productive careers, creating the wealth that sustains society. And all of them will help defend and promote reason and liberty. I'm quite proud of them.
Here are a few (click to enlarge).
Michaela ('21), Steele, and Kevin.
Kevin, my fellow economist Ivan P., Noor ('18), Steele, Michaela.
Jack G. and Steele.
Grant W. and yours truly.
Me with Danielle B.
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*The name of my college is redacted in compliance with the DiLorenzo Redaction Rule, a formerly de jure and now de facto law governing this blog. In keeping with the policy of our founder, Charles N. Steele, "we" never list our place of employment (if any!). This blog is a strictly private endeavor and our employers are not responsible for anything published. (We deny all responsibility as well!)
