Dr. Seuss is a staple of most children’s libraries and homes with little ones. Parents and teachers smile and giggle as they read these iconic books with silly characters and cartoons to their children, but it isn’t often we think about the vast amount of wisdom that can be gleaned from Dr. Seuss. When I graduated college I was given a copy of Oh, the Places You’ll Go by my undergraduate research advisor (who is now my graduate research advisor). Now as I ever so slowly near closer to finishing my PhD and think about what is going to come next I return to these words again. In a way that only Dr. Seuss can, all of life’s emotions are summed up into this children’s book: the excitement of accomplishments, new beginnings, and getting ahead; the unpleasantness of setbacks, hangups, and all the general mishaps; the fear and confusion of being lost, not knowing what do to or where to go; the anxiety of waiting or the hurry up and wait that is life; the loneliness that inevitably plagues each of us at some point; but most of all, the confidence to survive it all.
“And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.) KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!”
I bring up Dr. Seuss, because this place, this blog, this is my story - the story of Oh, the places I’m going… come along!