Well, here we are poised on the edge of finals week and the end of the semester for some, for others, the end of their college careers. A number of thoughts came to mind while I was considering what I would write for the end of my first year writing columns for the Index . I was at no loss for controversial issues to discuss, but I thought it would be an interesting twist to go out on a nice note for the year. With the end of the academic year at hand, I thought it might be a good idea to focus on a few things of real importance to anyone leaving university life by way of graduation or for some other reason. The first hard lesson that any individual will find they have to learn is simply that it isn't how much you know, but who you know.
Life is simply a large-scale game of networking.
I recently received a job offer here in town for a position that I would have probably never been given a shot at, despite the fact the position had remained open and they had a real need for someone to fill it. I knew two people who kindly opened that door of opportunity for me. The power of a friend who has a friend who knows someone somewhere is not something that should be taken lightly. These things just plain and simply do not comprise the heart, mind and soul of a person. To those of you leaving, do your best to take a small part of everything you've learned in your stay here out into the world.