Respect, Love and Cherish your Mater (Alma and otherwise).
When I was a Sophomore in High School, my father passed away. I am the youngest of four kids and was a “late in life” child, so I always intuitively knew it might happen. It did mean that for my last two high school years, and especially during my college transition, I had one parent to rely upon, my mother. So, it seems kind of appropriate as Mother's Day draws near (20 minutes and counting as I am writing this), to spend some time reflecting on my mater!
One vivid memory I have connected to my mom and coming to Boston for college has to be our first trip into the “big” city. I spent my high school years in South Carolina and I never had the opportunity to come to Boston to visit colleges before making my big decision, so when we arrived in August for orientation, it was my first time (and my mother's) being in Boston. We asked our travel agent beforehand what she would recommend we do for transportation in Boston, and she suggested renting a car. BIG mistake. We drove from Logan Airport into the (then) only inbound tunnel to Boston, and after trying to get from 8 or 9 lanes of traffic into 2 (in the middle of rush hour traffic no less), my mother proceeded to drive through the tunnel, pull off to the side once we were through it, and pass the keys over to me, saying, “You drive! I am never going to drive in this city again.” And she never did.
Mothers are amazing people. They nurture us, inspire us, encourage us and sometimes infuriate us. But we all, I hope, really know just how much they mean to us. I remember how difficult our transition was with me leaving home to go to college. I can only imagine it from her side: her youngest child leaving home to travel cross-country to go to school. While I could only envision the future, I can only imagine her remembering the past.
Now that I am a parent, I think I have somewhat of a different view on all of this. I can't imagine saying goodbye to my daughters (although, since they are 5 and 8, I have a long way to go yet), although I know their eventual pathways will lead them (I hope) toward great success.
May is a time for celebrating transition. Susan Hockfield has officially taken on the role of the 16th president of MIT, MIT Commencement is coming soon, our incoming Freshmen will be looking forward to their own High School graduations; so many transitions and new beginnings. It seems only appropriate to begin with a celebration of mater -- alma and otherwise (I'm sure you know that alma mater is simply Latin for nourishing mother; isn't there poetic brilliance in the idea of MIT being a nourishing mother to her students?).
To those of you leaving home to come to MIT (or to go to college elsewhere), remember to tell your mater how much she means to you.
To those of you leaving MIT to either begin your work career, or to continue your academic pursuits, remember your other mater as you continue on your journey, and let us who work for her know how you are doing.
To all of you, you do your mater proud when you respect, love and cherish her.
And finally, to my mother (and to the other women in my life who serve as mothers to those I care about), all my love.
