Ask Walt…

Dear Friends,

In the grand scheme of things, college students don’t know a whole lot. When we graduate, we get our degree, but all in all it doesn’t amount to much wisdom.

Wisdom comes with age. Wisdom comes with experience. And most of us don’t have a lot of either.

That’s right. We may think that we’re adults, and perhaps some of us are since as we have adult responsibilities, but the majority of us just float around for four years reading books and playing games.

I was in the lobby the other day and I heard two women discussing graduation.

One of them used the phrase “college kid” and I thought, “That’s exactly right.”

Somehow, within the last few decades or so, American college students have gone from emerging adults to floundering adolescents.

Don’t get me wrong: Sure, we can drive, vote, watch inappropriate movies, etc., but are we really adults?

 No. Not really. And that is why it is crucial that we–now don’t murder me for saying this–listen to our parents.

Wow, I thought the universe might implode if I actually said it. Good thing to know we’re all still here.

Yes, we need to listen to our parents, and grandparents, and professors, and those old men at our church who are always going on and on about something or other.

We need to listen to what they have to say because, let me tell you, they have a heck of a lot more wisdom than we do.

And why wouldn’t they? They’ve lived decades more than we have.

All this is not to say that we should be down on ourselves for being young.

The thing about wisdom is that it tends to keep company with age and experience.

But I think it’s important to remember that we don’t have it all figured out yet. We need to remember to enjoy our youth while still respecting the advice and opinions of our elders.

So there it is. The truth. Don’t blame me if it hurts.

    -Walt