Hannah Herchenbach
The President's Piece
You are not here for a degree
That is part of the purpose, for certain. Otherwise you wouldn't be taking on a debt of about twenty grand. But there is so much more to university than that. Finding yourself in the long staggered crawl of what happens is a timeless process, there's nothing new about it. Constantine Cavafy said something apt about it back in 1911. When Odysseus tried to find his way home, he got constantly lost along the way. The journey he thought would take him one way was a series of constant detours instead. But that's what you want, Constantine says:
"When you set out on your journey to Ithaca, pray that the road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge ... To arrive there is your ultimate goal. But do not hurry the voyage at all. It is better to let it last for many years; and to anchor at the island when you are old, rich with all you have gained on the way, not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches. Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage. Without her you would have never set out on the road. She has nothing more to give you. And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you. Wise as you have become, with so much experience, you must already have understood what Ithacas mean."
Your degree is a great reward. But it is not all there is.
We're going to try and help you figure out the rest.
Welcome to Canta.
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