A toast to CEU
In some ways I have lived my life a little backward … and maybe that suits me. Not long out of high school I got my dream job. I was the guy that performed laser shows in planetariums. You know: Laser Floyd, Laser Zeppelin, the kind of thing young people, hippies and stoners love. And not long after that … I was the guy that dreamed up the imagery and was a member of a team of engineers, animators and designers that created planetarium laser light shows.
This archived article was written by: Scott Frederick
In some ways I have lived my life a little backward … and maybe that suits me. Not long out of high school I got my dream job. I was the guy that performed laser shows in planetariums. You know: Laser Floyd, Laser Zeppelin, the kind of thing young people, hippies and stoners love. And not long after that … I was the guy that dreamed up the imagery and was a member of a team of engineers, animators and designers that created planetarium laser light shows.
One day I was sitting at my desk in my office working … and when I say working I mean I had headphones on and was listening to David Bowie’s song Ashes to Ashes with a pad of paper writing my ideas for imagery. As it frequently happened … the more I listened … the more I heard until the design of the song seemed natural and obvious. I wrote it down and as I did … I realized I earned my living by using my brain and my imagination.
It was quite a revelation and I understood that being able to use my mind to earn a living meant that I could do my job even if my body broke down or got old or whatever. The only problem was … laser shows lost their popularity. So when I say I am living my life a little backwards I mean I have already had an awesome job, and now I am in college to gain the education for another awesome job. With that in mind … this is my toast to the students of CEU:
Take summers off and do something big. Backpack through Europe, walk across America, produce a record, follow your bliss. Fall in love but don’t get married. Stay free for awhile. Do the wild stuff you want to do (as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone of course). See New York City, hang out in Paris, and learn how a big city operates … live and work in one for awhile … even if you don’t intend to stay. Once you can find your way around and make it in a big city … you can make it anywhere.
Continue your formal education. Don’t get caught up in the city or adventure such that you stop your education. Remember the prize … earning your living using your mind and imagination.
Thanks especially to the students that have made college so fun … you know who you are. You are the ones I teased the most (the ones I snapped like a twig) … the ones I have worked with, suffered with and studied with … the ones I couldn’t and can’t live without. Thank you for your support and camaraderie. I love you forever. This goes doubly for The Eagle newspaper staff.
Thanks to the instructors of CEU. If I have had a class from you … thank you. I know it’s sappy (but that is the kind of guy I am) but how do you thank the people that have changed your life? I will never forget my first class on my first day, English 1010 from Larry Severied. I am sure none of the other students will forget that class either. Larry, thanks for all the good times … in and out of the classroom.
To all my instructors … thank you for sharing your expertise and enthusiasm with me. Without a doubt the reason CEU is a great school is because of you. Thanks to the staff, administration, coaches and also the staff of the department of continuing education.
It has been a blast to be on the staff of The Eagle. I have enjoyed observing and writing about events on campus and especially taking pictures of all of you. I wish you could see yourselves as I see you.
Susan Polster has been there for me throughout my entire time at CEU. Susan, thank you.
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2009.
