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Volume CXXXIII, Number 12 |
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Celebration vs. Time
The seniors on this campus probably do not recall a holiday
season that was less holiday-oriented than this one. Yes, some of the
houses have put up decorations here and there (except for Quinby House,
which has put up decorations everywhere), and occasionally you will see
some lights twinkling from some lonely dorm room, but all-in-all, there
is little to distinguish this campus from the month of September. Not
even the weather.
The days of the grand holiday parties with formal dress,
cocktails, and tree decorating seem to be a thing of the past-as are other
leisurely social events throughout the year. And the reason for this seems
at least in part to be that nobody has time to partake in such indulgences.
Why do students today seem to find themselves so much busier?
Is it because there's just much more work to do than there used to be?
In a sense, yes. But the work is not forced on students. Students take
it on themselves.
Students on this campus seem to be involved in so many different
activities that they have no time for anything else, often including eating
dinner. Anything that doesn't make it on their to-do list is usually neglected,
unless they can squeeze it in between Meetings A and B.
Certainly students enjoy these activities, but for the most
part, the activities are about doing things for other people, not for
themselves. And if it is for themselves, it tends to be with some hope
that it will be a resume builder or a subtle educational experience to
draw on in some future career event. Few activities, in fact, are solely
for the self, or for the enjoyment of the present moment.
And certainly there is nothing wrong with doing things for
other people. Volunteering, for example, is undoubtedly an extremely worthy
and valuable occupation of one's time. But doing things for oneself, unambitiously,
is equally as important, and that is something that is often forgotten
on this campus.
We should be very careful that we don't spend so much time doing so many
activities, as worthwhile as they may be, that we have no time to relax
and enjoy things simply the way they are. The lack of holiday spirit seems
to be a sad symptom of just that, though, and it we may very well regret
it someday.
-BJL