Hamilton Irony

We all know that Hamilton says that it a place where students learn to become critical, independent thinkers that question the world around them. Certainly, the many high school seniors roaming campus over the past few days looking around in child-like excitement testify to the allure of this offer. Even we as current students are evidence of submission to this message by paying a handsome amount of money to the college.

So many have come to refer to things like the message Hamilton sends to students and the many activities on campus as "the tradition of the college". This very phrase came up last night as I was eating dinner with my friend and discussing some of the college traditions. We were particularly focused on the tradition of Class and Charter Day. You know, that special day at the end of the spring semester that celebrates the college's rich history and tradition. It also happens to be the day that many students spend in a drunken haze--you know, that classic college tradition. The night before, we had been talking to a group of upperclassman about Class and Charter Day and how some students may skip class to get drunk, while others may still go to class and some may even pull off the ultimate combination: going to class drunk. After laughing at the ridiculousness of some the past goings-on of Class and Charter Day, I asked my friend what she thought of all of it. "Well, you know, it's kind of the tradition of the college."

This phrase, "the tradition of the college", made me think about our lives here. To what extent are we going about our life here at Hamilton by our own free will? Surely, many eventually understand what they love to do and actually act on that passion. At the same time, are there not times in our lives here when we make certain choices because that's what everyone else does, because that's the tradition, or simply because that's what you're supposed to do? These pressures present constant manipulation and can't be avoided. It's kind of ironic that in a place of independent thinkers, we so often depend on the will of others to make our decisions.