Unless something rather miraculous happens between now and Sunday morning when I walk across the portable stage in Notre Dame Stadium, chances are I will not have a full-time job waiting for me after I graduate.
If someone had told me that would be the case when I applied to schools as a high school senior, my seventeen-year-old self would have taken that as an indictment of Notre Dame.
But now, on the eve of graduation from this University, I am keenly aware of how much Notre Dame has given me during my four years here.
No matter what happens next in my life, I am confident that I will succeed because of what I have learned at this place. What have I learned?
Always big cup it.
Lose sleep.
Agreement isn't always a good thing.
Quarter dogs are always worth it.
Hesburgh Library becomes a Ultimate Fighting Championship octagon during finals week.
Lunch is optional.
Sports beside football are cool, too.
The Digital Visualization Theater is the coolest thing ever.
If you take a foreign language, constantly study vocabulary.
Your job will never be as cool as Matt Cashore's.
The Observer exists solely to publish Question of the Day.
Study abroad, but don't dwell on it when you come back.
3 a.m. is an acceptable time to start a paper.
Marshmallows are impossible to get out of clothes.
Work and play should mix - often.
I may not have full-time employment, but I do have some of the greatest people I've ever met by my side.
I've graduated from the University of Notre Dame and getting to this point has been the best journey of my life. Wherever I go next, I will always be a man of Notre Dame and I will never forget the alma mater - I couldn't wish for anything more than that.
After graduation, Pat will be moving to Denver, Colo. in search of employment. "Go west, young man," they said. (Right? They said that, right?) He's pretty handy with a camera, so if you need someone ... just sayin'. He can be reached at pcoveney@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
