REFELCTIONS ON THE REAL WORLD FOR SENIORS IN THE CLASS OF 2000

To the editor:

This is an open letter to high school seniors. Why this letter? Well, I thought since I have received quite a few letters from seniors on what is it like to leave high school and face the real world, why not share some of my reflections with you and also wish you all the very best in all your endeavors.

Gosh, I cannot believe that 12 years ago this month I was preparing for my high school graduation exams with all my friends. We weren't interested much in the exams. Getting out of that building was the important thing. We were preparing for the great G day. We spent time counting the hours. Two days before graduation day, we sat together planning how we were going to go out there and conquer the world, get hold of life and just enjoy what the world had to offer. While some of us were thinking about conquering the world, some were thinking about how young we were and how we shouldn't think about anything yet, but just take time to enjoy life. In all this thinking and non-thinking, I felt a great sense of loss, because I really didn't know what the future had in store for me. I felt a great need to just get over the graduation and focus on the goals that I had already set for myself. How will I ever accomplish these goals was probably the biggest struggle of all, but I knew that with my parent's advice something good would happen.

Finally the graduation day came, and I heard my name called for several honorable mentions in chemistry, economics and biology. My best friends also received awards. I can still hear the voices of my friends shouting in Italian, "E finita finalmente, siamo liberi" (Finally it's over, we are free). We were all excited that finally that phase had come to an end and we must move on with life, but again the question kept coming up: How do I move on with life? The graduation that I so much desired became a pain when after two weeks I didn't have to go to school anymore and my friends were nowhere to be found. I felt like the world was coming to an end. All the promises, the great freedom that I longed for became a prison. Yet I knew that the show must go on. I felt the need to really move on, and that is what I did: Move on. But how? Please don't ask me for the recipe, because I don't know of any, but I trusted that everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame but greatness, because greatness is determined by service. I had great trust that I could become somebody if only I wanted to and was willing to make it in life. This attitude led me to graduation from university in 1997.

Well, you may now be wondering why in the world is he writing this letter telling us about his life and how easy or hard he had it. That wasn't my intention. My main focus in this letter is to let every one of you know that a phase is coming to an end, and we can make good use of it or vice versa. In the course of years I have been involved with youths in Rome (through a youth talk show) and here in the United States through high school teaching, and the questions are often the same.

"The whole world is against us!" Well, I don't know if the whole world is against you, but you can certainly be against yourself by not making good use of your time. I have always thought about how great it would be to hide under the notion that the "whole universe is against my developing all the great talents that I have." But remember that you alone hold the key to that door to your talents, and you just have to come out and make good use of it. Never think that there will time later because, as I was made to understand, time waits for no one. I have always believed people should strive for excellence, but excellence does not only mean getting honorable mentions or being a valedictorian. Excellence also means using all that you've learned in these past years to become a better person. It is important that we never divorce our studies from the persona. Who you are and who you will become in the future becomes fundamental in this age of ours where the person has no value. I encourage all of you to promote healthy living, thus being a shining example for the world to see.

One of the major areas that we try to develop in college is friendship, but remember to make wise choices by not becoming friends with people who will lead you into doing what you don't want to do. Remember that you really don't have to be like everyone to be in a group. Be yourself. I am of the opinion that who we are is better, if only we can have the courage to be. One of the problems you might face is that of identity, but trusting that you are special is important. What some people might say about you really doesn't matter. Again, strive to be yourself.

Society has placed incredible importance on having sex any time and with whomever you want. It is portrayed in all soap operas, but you and I know very well that what we see in the soap operas and movies is not real life. We know that it is quite different when we get out there. There is a great re-evaluation of morals. People believe being promiscuous is the key to solving hyperhormones. These ideologies have ruined many lives and have lead to the destruction of many families and family values. Human sexuality has no more meaning and no other dimension than the satisfaction and feeling good. People need to realize that an intrinsic part of human life is one's sexuality, a marvelous gift given to us by God to further our progress to our heavenly home, and we cannot just make decisions with regard to human sexuality based solely on our feelings and opinions.

As you move along to college, I hope you meet and become acquainted with people from different cultures and try as much as possible to broaden your horizons. There are lots of things out there that we need to know and learn about others. Sometimes learning about different cultures only tells us that, after all, we are the same. Wherever you find yourself, dear seniors, always fight for justice. Make that your goal, for there can be no love without justice. Finally, don't expect to get everything from your parents or expect them to understand all your pains and sorrows. You are not the only one in the world. Try to understand their viewpoint and, in understanding them, they will understand you. I hope parents will pay more attention to their children and give them useful directions in life.

Make good use of what is in you, for what is in you is greater than what is outside. If you don't want to spend the first half of your life complicating the second half, start now to make a change. You've still got time to make a change. By the same token, time is running out.

I hope you all make good use of your time and remember what one of my senior students, Nathan Hirtz, told me: "High school graduation is not the finish line, but rather a major checkpoint in the race for what we will become in the future." On this note I wish you all the very best.

Patrick I. William-Kwokoye teaches in the theology department at Notre Dame High school in Cape Girardeau. He is a native of Nigeria.