Throughout the world, children are finishing the spring semester of their education and going off on long vacations to enjoy their well-deserved rest. For ten weeks, they will forget their problems and their school and focus only on playin' 'round in the dirt, or swimming in the pool. They know in a little while, school will begin again, but they don't care. After all, in only a few years, they won't have to worry about that. Life will be all grown up, and they'll be able to decide where they want to go for vacation, not like their boring parents, taking a ride all the way out just to look at some old trees. Pah!

Some, though, like myself, are preparing to enter an entire different world, one without vacations or the certainty of another semester ahead. This month, I will be taking my first course at the local county college. In August, I will begin full-time college work, which will invariably pull me away from the Outpost. Things are going to change, not only for me, but for millions of other young adults around the world who will start their first year at college. Some will attend for only one class a day, some for four or five. No matter the hours you put in, we all have one thing in common -- we're nervous.

What are the expectations we hold for ourselves, and what are those that others hold for us? I suppose that our parents all want us to succeed, and to be the best we can be. And we want that too, right? The world today has a scurrilous eye directed at us constantly. "No, those young whippersnappers don't know anything these days," some of our parents would say. Others might exclaim, "The best years of the Earth were back when I was a kid, in the fifties and the sixties!" Does that somehow relate how low of expectations are held for the nineties generation? And what of ourselves? The constant, "I can't do that!" How does that speak for the confidence we have in ourselves?

"Who are you;" "What are your interests;" "Why are you going to college;" "Where do you want to work;" "Do you have a checking account;" and "Thought about moving out into your own apartment;" These are only a few of the questions that, soon, not only yourself, but also others will be asking about you. They're bigger questions that what they look. They're nothing compared to, "What kind of glue do you think the teacher will want," or "Did she ask for the manila or the colored construction paper?" It's a different world for you now, and while some would say it's the beginning of your life, I bet few of you would readily agree, right?

The graduating class of 2003, the first stage of your education is finally at an end. There is yet a lot more to do. Education continues for your entire life. Some of you might decide in twenty years to go back and get another degree, or perhaps change your entire career around. It's a big world out there, and you, I, and millions of others, are going out into it fresh-faced and clear-headed. We've come this far, and damn, we've done a good job, but it's now time to push further. Give it your all, stand tall, and don't let anyone dissuade you from doing what you love. Whether you are like me, and about to begin college, or you have just finished; we're all moving up to a different level. But hey, you know what, I'm looking forward to it. I certainly don't want to see all my hard work wasted. Do you?

What words could I give to encourage you, and myself, for the future? I spent an hour looking online for commencement addresses that I could quote. I wanted to find something so encouraging that when you close out this article, you will be glad to have read it. I found it in the form of the following paragraph, which I found here:

"Sir Winston Churchill took three years getting through eighth grade because he had trouble learning English. It seems ironic that years later Oxford University asked him to address its commencement exercises. He arrived with his usual props. A cigar, a cane and a top hat accompanied Churchill wherever he went. As Churchill approached the podium, the crowd rose in appreciative applause. With unmatched dignity, he settled the crowd and stood confident before his admirers. Removing the cigar and carefully placing the top hat on the podium, Churchill gazed at his waiting audience. Authority rang in Churchill's voice as he shouted, "Never give up!" Several seconds passed before he rose to his toes and repeated: "Never give up!" His words thundered in their ears. There was a deafening silence as Churchill reached for his hat and cigar, steadied himself with his cane and left the platform. His commencement address was finished."

And as Tim Allen said in the 1999 film 'Galaxy Quest', "Never give up, never surrender!"

Sincerely,

CL5 Robert Griffith
Communications Publishing Team