Another year down
June 1 marked my two year anniversary at the Bigfork Eagle. The day came and went without me even noticing. That was greatly due to the fact that it was a Tuesday, which is our production day and a day that is notorious for having little time to think about anything but the Eagle. However, the following day I realized what I had missed, and then I realized something more – time is flying by.
It seems like just a few months ago I was calling the Eagle office to tell the then editor Alex Strickland that I was lost and couldn't remember the directions he gave me to the office. Now, two years later here I am living within walking distance to what I now know to be our easily located office.
Although it feels like just a short time ago that I was starting my first day of work at the Eagle, looking back it is hard to believe how much I have done and seen. The past year has been especially exciting as I had the privilege of following several successful Bigfork sports team, as well write some unique outdoors stories.
I continue to appreciate the members of the community that make my job enjoyable and sometimes even a little easier, as they act as reliable sources of information and constant supporters of my work.
As I was marking my second year at the Eagle, another group in Bigfork was doing a little celebrating of their own. The class of 2010 walked the stage at Bigfork High School the following Saturday, and as I took part in their festivities that day I thought about an article I read last month about Bob Knight giving a commencement speech at Trine University in Indiana.
Knight's main point to the graduates before him was that preparation was the key to success. However, Knight, who is not known for being gentle in his comments, had an interesting reminder for them as they began to define success – do not settle.
Although that is not commonly the piece of advice that one would share with someone who was celebrating a great accomplishment, I think it is the perfect thing to say and a good time to say it.
Far too often people become content with the status quo and stop striving for more. It is important for all people, not just athletes, to continue to work hard to improve themselves and their place in the world.
I am proud of Bigfork's class of 2010, but I hope that each one of them keeps in mind their loftiest goals and works every day to achieve them whether they are 20 or 80 years-old.
Of course everyone is different. Not everyone wants the same things in his or her life. To some a certain lifestyle might be settling and for others it might be pure perfection. It is up to each person to know what it is to be striving to be the best they can be in their lives.
One of the best things that this year's graduating class reminded me of was the importance of being yourself and of cherishing your individuality. The older we get the easier it is to not only stop working to achieve greater things, but also we stop setting ourselves apart from others. Whether it be beat-boxing, dancing in the stands or dying their hair funky colors. The class of 2010 was one of the most individualistic group I have seen in awhile and they showed us how fun being who you truly are can be.
It is my hope that each of them hangs on to their special and unique personalities, interests and characteristics and uses them to achieve great things and not settle for less than they truly want.