MIKE WEST, Managing Editor
Posted: Sunday, May 24, 2009 9:08 am

Whew…it was a breeze when ol’ Hammerhaid graduated back in old … forgetaboutit.

In fact, his graduation was long enough ago to forget the many edges involved in such an endeavor.

How long ago was it? Long enough to forget the travail, heartache and the sudden glee involved in such a noteworthy event.

It was so long ago that the actual event involving ol’ Hammerhaid’s daughter, Maria, came as an absolute surprise. Heck, it was a mind-blowing shocker.

Wow!

Her graduation was a jolt.

Maybe that’s how it’s intended to be in this modern time. It seems like the first two years of high school were a slow process marked by the tedium of classes, special projects and reports. The third year came and went faster, but the fourth was an absolute blur. It came and it went in a blink of an eye.

Blur-r-r-r, the holidays and bang it’s over.

But for Maria, it was a slower year. A time for reflection and special choices carried out to the loud electronic drumbeat of some techno band that her old man had never heard of, punctuated by the bing-bang-boom generated by her worn-out laptop.

Yes, her year was slow, but faster than the one experienced by her father decades ago.

And the summer break will pass even quicker.

So, before the summer is gone, what lessons should I pass on to her?

Be yourself.

You’re a good, rock-solid person armed with conviction and enough confidence to guide others. Not that many high school grads can claim as much.

Don’t forget to put yourself first, particularly when it comes to the classroom.

Sometimes at college, classwork is the easiest part of the picture. Sure, there’s the required stuff, but you have to tolerate it to clear the path for your chosen field. Often the truly hard part is being away from home, family and the familiar stuff that makes your life what it truly is.

Don’t forget the basic things that can make college easier.

Like getting enough sleep and eating real food. Both of those can make a real difference. But really, the hardest trick is putting your studies first at least by a smidge or more.

Don’t forget that you are an artist first ... unless, through the slip-sliding of college life, you find something more important to do. But ¬– and this is very important – make sure that’s what YOU really want to do with your life. Then make it happen.

Don’t forget your family. They love you no matter what.

We will try to stay out of your way, but always remember we are there, quietly urging (and trying not to demand) each step forward. From the oldest to the youngest, we all have something to say.

When it comes to the university, finding the right sources of trust and information can be difficult for incoming freshman. They don’t know you and you don’t know them. Wow! That’s the time you put common sense – and a bit of luck – to use. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and keep asking them until you find out those key bits of information, but know when to listen too.

Some folks take to college a little like a duck does to water. You can be among those students if you set your mind to the goal of not letting the little stones grind ya down. So get out there, have fun, keep your head on your shoulders, and don’t forget to write or e-mail or whatever it is you kids do now days.