Ask any Chico State senior what he or she is looking most forward to and the one thing that is bound to be at the top of the list is GRADUATION! Commencement is a time for the recognition of great achievements, an opportunity for the gathering of families, and a cause for celebration. It is also the turning point for graduating students as they prepare to begin new chapters of their lives and move on to bigger and better things in "the real world."

Most students experience great joy at the thought of abandoning textbooks, term papers, and exams. However, leaving friends and Chico, a place they have grown to love, may be another story altogether. For every new beginning, there is always some sort of ending, and letting go can be the hardest challenge in life.

As graduates leave this unique community, they should take pride in their accomplishments, take time to reflect on their college experience, and show appreciation to those who supported them through their college years. They leave knowing that they are going "out there" to use all they learned and experienced at CSU, Chico.

Memories of their years at Chico State will stay with alums for a lifetime and will be just as important as the diplomas they now possess.