Cougars & Mustangs 

Dead week approaches for the Cuesta Cougars. So close to the end of their schooling, said schooling throws everything it has in their way to try and stop them. It may seem as though this implies that their college wants nothing more than to fail them, but this is not true. The climax of a story occurs once the rising action has reached a zenith.

Stones only become smooth and round after a great deal of erosion has occurred. If inspected closely enough, each curve tells a story of harrowing effort to survive the tide without crumbling completely. Even those who seem to attain victory with complete ease only project this illusion due to intense work behind the scenes. Well, the documentary is as important as the film. You have made it this far, and you will make it farther. 

Take a moment to remember how unrealistic so many of the expectations placed upon you are. For everything you are beating yourself up about, there are 20 more that you are forgetting to applaud yourself for. And thus Cougars and Mustangs repeats messages of encouragement at least once every end-of-year, aware that student stress deserves the encouragement. 

This time, however, it is with the proud affirmation that its writer, too, will be walking the stage of graduation this May 20 at 3 p.m., at the Cuesta gymnasium. A reminder to those who wish to do the same, you need to sign up before May 16. As well, there is a rehearsal the day prior to commencement, May 19, at 2:45 p.m., at the gym on SLO Campus. 

After the actual ceremony (for which doors open at 2 p.m.), there will be a reception with free refreshments for all attendees and a raffle to win prizes (one iPod Mini and four $50 Visa Gift Cards) for those who made the walk across the stage. Proper graduation equipment, such as tassel, cap, and gown, can be purchased at Ye Olde Campus Bookstore. 

And thus, before returning to our regularly scheduled programming (which you should definitely submit your collegiate news for), a final, self-indulgent word of thanks to those who have taken this journey with me, both editorial staff and reader alike. The experiment of writing what I felt a student might need to hear from the perspective of a student who truly did was unusual and not always terribly professional, but in the end I think that allowed me and Cougars & Mustangs a unique form of honesty that I will always feel humbled by. Same time next week? 

Contributor Lola White-Sanborn is still here, still writing, but with a degree under her belt. She may not know what the future holds, but you do! So send her the collegiate news you have via [email protected], and congratulations to this year’s Cuesta graduates!