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April 29, 2025
Daylight: 16:52:31
**Finals Are Here!**
Congratulations! The finish line is in sight! The cheers from family, friends, and
onlookers are ringing in your ears! A more peaceful time is just around the corner
as you close out the spring 2025 semester. What an amazing accomplishment! I am so
proud of you. Well done!
Does it feel like a big deal? Sometimes, the moments right after a big finish can
be a bit anticlimactic. You hear the applause, people shower you with kind words and
congratulations, and then – poof – it’s all over. You might find yourself back in
your dorm, in your car, or at home, sitting quietly with your thoughts, almost as
if you’ve come full circle.
The return home from a great adventure has been a rite of passage for thousands of
years, and yours has been months in the making! It really has been an incredible experience!
Even if you don’t see it or feel it, you are not the same person you were when you
started. If your appearance could tell the tale of your journey, you’d look like you
just finished a thousand-mile hike: worn shoes, a bit of wear and tear on your clothes,
and that glow of experience on your face. You are changed. You’ve gained so much from
your classes, but you’ve also learned valuable things about yourself.
So, what have you discovered about yourself? Take a moment to think about it. Reflect
on your journey here.
What did you learn? How did you do? Did you find out more about how you learn best?
Did you realize you’re tougher than you thought? Did you tap into strengths you didn’t
know you had? Have your perspectives or values shifted? More importantly, did your
experiences help you understand others better, which in turn helped you know yourself?
Sometimes, these profound changes take a little while to sink in. Learning is a wonderfully
messy process. All the courses and experiences from this semester are now part of
who you are. You’ve evolved! Like any adventure, you faced ups and downs. What taught
you more – the high points or the lows?
As you transition out of this term and into what we hope will be a fantastic summer,
keep this in mind!
Now, it’s time to celebrate your achievements! Listen to those cheers – they’re for
you! You deserve to rejoice in finishing this semester and all that you’ve accomplished.
Are you graduating? We can’t wait to see you at commencement! If you’re not graduating
just yet, why not join in on the commencement fun with your fellow adventurers? It’s
happening this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Carlson Center. Let’s celebrate together!
Take good care of yourself:
It’s been such a joy writing these notes to you each week. Thank you for your wonderful
feedback! Until I catch up with you again at the start of the fall semester, enjoy
your summer! Whatever you choose to do – whether it’s taking more classes, working,
parenting, or exploring – I hope you find joy in each day. You’ve earned it!
As always, if you have any suggestions or if there is anything we can do better, please
let me know at obguthrie@alaska.edu.Ìý
— Owen Guthrie, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management
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