108. That is the number of stairs there is from the library entry down to the 6^th floor. 108. When I was thinking of coming to the U of L, I was told “Don’t go, all there is is concrete and stairs.” Of course, I didn’t believe it and I travelled 6 hours to embark on a tour. Of the concrete. And the stairs. I’m graduating now, and I think I’m going to miss those 108 stairs. Although I’ve only been here two years (I transferred in), the U of L has become my home. It, and its 108 stairs. Considering each stair has a rise of 7 inches, that’s 756 inches of climbing, 5 days a week, 13 weeks a semester. For me, that’s 393,120 inches, elevation gain/loss over 2 years. That’s 9,985 meters. Considering that Mount Everest is 8,848 m, that’s a lot of ups and downs. 108. Those stairs are kind of like life. You’re always working towards something. Sometimes you’re late, sometimes you’re early. Sometimes there are people blocking your way that you have to squeeze around, sometimes you are the blocker, and sometimes there is clear sailing all the way to the top. Some days it’s harder to get to the top than others, but you still do it. Sometimes you sit and wait at the bottom for someone that you know so you don’t have to make the hike by yourself.  But you still do it. You get up there. It doesn’t seem like an Everest when you do it a little every day, but at the end you can stand at the top and be proud. For me, I can stay at the top and say that I graduated. You may not be able to say that yet, or ever, but find a victory to celebrate. “I got a D in calculus!” “I only dropped 2 classes this semester!” “I… didn’t get arrested?” Find SOMETHING. You’ve done good. For me, I’m scared of the future. I’ll miss waking up at 11 for class, and wandering down those 108 stairs. I have to move, to find a job, to start life. I’ll be finding my own set of stairs to climb, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year. Who knows how that will go, or where I will end up? But I know that there’s only so much that you have to do every day, and it adds up. So here’s to you, U of L, for teaching us (even in your architecture) life lessons. And here’s to my fellow graduates, well done! You’ll do fine! For everyone still in school, enjoy (even when it sucks)! It’ll suck worse when it’s over. For me, you can find me looking for a new staircase somewhere, starting from the bottom.

Warren McAuley