The Spire

Daniel Maddigan ’24

A Disgruntled Californian 

Do you like your free time? 

Do you enjoy relaxing at home and watching some tv or reading a book? 

Do you enjoy the coziness of your bed on a cold winter Saturday in Worcester? 

If you answered no to all of these questions, then I hope you did your due diligence by attending the Co-curricular extravaganza on Saturday! Remember, as emerging members of the competitive job market, every moment of your time must be commodified, recorded, and extracted in order for you to be properly prepared for life ahead. If you don’t record how your participation in afterschool volunteering through SPUD or writing for the newspaper makes you a better sales rep or doctor or lawyer, you’ll never be able to be successful. Friendships? Romantic relationships? Time with family? These things are nice to have, sure, but they ultimately mean nothing when it comes to having a lucrative career. 

Not only will the hundreds of organizations you join occupy all of your time, but they will also become the key aspects of your identity. Leave behind any idea of yourself as funny or kind or passionate or loving; Your co-curriculars are what make you human now. After all, what are any of us but a single page summary submitted to hundreds of companies? 

That’s where the co-curricular extravaganza comes in. It gives you the best opportunity to form your new identity. By signing your signature and email at least 40 times, you practically sign your old life away while welcoming the new! Convenient!

All jokey wokeys aside, reader,  it’s great to get involved on campus. Participating in co-curriculars you actually enjoy will enhance your Holy Cross experience tenfold. This somewhat lackadaisical Californian wants to remind you to not forget about the activities that might not go on a resume but still make college extremely special. A late night blizzard run with your friends, a hard-fought intramural sports victory, or a late night chat with your roommate: all of these and more are just as crucial to the College experience as your co-curricular activities. Get involved, be passionate, enjoy what you do, but please, remember that your time, talents, and relationships are worth more than a few extra bullet points on a piece of paper. Anyways, new Kimball, amirtiteeee? This is why I’m resigning from the Spire, active immediately.