Notes from Under the Oaks
Yesterday I was lucky to view a preview of this semester's campus production of Our Town. The director commented he loved the play because it tells the story of moments you think are going to last forever, but later question whether they happened at all.
The sneak preview was part of our lunch with Golden Guard alumni and faculty emeriti. The director is a current senior at Pacific.
As I looked around the room I first thought of how many collective profound moments the audience had experienced. Then I thought of my own. Those moments have become frozen in time. Some are sharp and poignant. Some are a bit blurrier.
The moment when my parents both waved from the car as they drove away leaving me in front of Walter Hall. In my memory they both look pale and anxious.
The moment when the plane first left the ground as I began my great European adventure, studying abroad in London.
The moment when my sister called to tell me my dad had died.
The moment when I stood in front of my professors and peers to present my senior thesis.
The moment I received my first “real” job offer after college.
The moment when my boyfriend became my husband.
The second when our realtor handed me the keys to our home.
The entire last 21 months we’ve spent watching our daughter blossom.
After all of this ran through my head, I thought about how our time at Pacific was but just a moment in time. Sometimes it felt like that moment would last forever (i.e. during finals) and in retrospect, I can hardly believe it happened.
Over the next few months local alumni have the opportunity to visit campus and be part of these moments for current students.
On April 24 alumni can volunteer in classrooms as seniors present their thesis projects.
On April 27 we’ll host Speed Networking, a chance to help students achieve that first “real” job offer.
On May 22 the Portland Networking Breakfast will take place at the Multnomah Athletic Club and we expect to see a fair number of students who will have graduated just days earlier.
And of course, all are welcome to visit campus this weekend for Our Town.
I hope to see you soon and in the meantime, we’d love to hear about your special moments in life. Send us a note, give us a call, or stop in for a visit at the Abbott Alumni Center in Forest Grove! And don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance.
Best wishes,
Martha Calus-McLain ‘03
Director of Alumni Relations
503-352-2057
alumni@pacificu.edu
Posted by Martha Calus-Mclain (calu0689@pacificu.edu) on Mar 15, 2013 at 8:17 AM
Edited by Rachael Burbank (rburbank@pacificu.edu) on Mar 15, 2013 at 1:09 PM
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