We refer to the last few weeks of the year as “the holiday season.” In Western culture, the winter “holidays” coincide with religious festivals, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Diwali – indeed, almost all cultures celebrate a winter festival when families and neighbors gather together as a ward against the encroaching darkness of winter’s longer nights.
Next week, we have a chance to experience a light in what has been a time of much darkness. Our graduates, who have persevered during extremely difficult circumstances, are bright lights who will illuminate future generations. If you are not participating in one of the commencement ceremonies, I encourage you to watch one online to remind ourselves of the optimism and hope that will always endure, despite the headwinds of life.
