Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire — burn baby burn

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”  

— William Butler Yeats

     Having just returned from my three-day visit to Vancouver, I’m again reminded of one of the reasons Nels and I chose to retire to Okanagan country. 

     I was absolutely amazed at the onslaught of traffic that people battle every day, to and from their workplace. 

     Our city of Kelowna has its share of traffic, especially at vacation time, but of course, nothing compared to the big city, that in our earlier years seemed so peacefully different. 

           

Ashton Brooke Eagles

     

     What a wonderful privilege I had to be a part of the happy celebration of seeing my youngest granddaughter, Ashton Brooke, graduate from the University of British Columbia. 

     Honour Standing with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology, the result of much dedication and hard work! 

     

     Each time as I visit University of British Columbia, I am reminded of those earlier years when Nels also attended there, during the fifties. UBC’s beginning was in 1916, their first grad class, with 379 registered students and 34 faculty members. Continuing to grow, by the 1950s UBC had become a top choice for students in British Columbia and beyond. 

     At the first graduation ceremony in 1916, I learned that the first president, Frank Wesbrook, in his speech, encouraged the students to make our world a better place. A century later, the same remarks were echoed to the class of 2018, perhaps carrying even a greater challenge. 

     I like Anne Frank’s encouraging words, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” The University’s motto, I find most interesting: Tuum Est, meaning "it is yours," which to me seems to say, “You can be whatever you want to be. It’s up to you!” 

     

Lisa, her mother Anne and Beulah.

Beulah, Ashton and Roger.

Brayden and sister Ashton.

Lisa, Ashton and Anne.

Beulah, Ashton and Anne.

Ashton dressed for evening celebrations.

Ashton celebrating with cake at her Vancouver home.

     As there are so many choices available in this decade in which we live, Ashton and her fellow graduates’ unforeseen future could be extraordinary! 

     Many believe that it is choice rather than fate which determines where the human journey leads. Ralph Waldo Emerson said it concisely, “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” 

     How important then, are the choices we make! Choices that, without a doubt, will shape our destiny. It can be a big scary world out there but, “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life,” Mohammed Ali once said.  

     We topped the day off, with a delicious dinner around the table at a Greek restaurant called Minerva’s, with family and a few of Ashton’s favourite friends. 

     Later, our dessert was a delicious cake, served back at Ashton’s apartment, on campus. 

     

Ashton and boyfriend Matteo.

     A highlight was finally getting to meet Matteo, Ashton’s boyfriend. He was a delight, and this Grandma was quite impressed. 

     Another added bonus was meeting up with granddaughter, Krista and great grands, Evelyn and Melissa at a local White Spot for breakfast. 

     Evelyn was granted time off from school, just so she could meet with us, certainly making Grandma Karen’s day!   

     I dedicate the following prayer to all graduates of 2018 and indeed to all of us:

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon, where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. 
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.”  

— Prayer of Saint Francis  

— beulah