Graduation Advice Past and Present: A Commencement Address with
Historical Perspective  Brooke L. Blower, June 2013  This is an
excerpt from the commencement address given at Boston
University's history department convocation on May 18, 2013.  I
know you're all worrying about what you're going to do now, and,
for you, thinking about the future means facing that mythical
beast known as "the job market." But don't forget all the other
crazy stuff you're going to have to deal with that isn't related
to your day-to-day work. Stuff that you have no idea is coming.
At some point in life, you're going to get asked to do something
daunting, like give a wedding toast, speak at a funeral, or do
the commencement address. You might get asked to serve as a jury
foreman, or you'll find yourself suddenly leading a coup against
the PTA president at your kid's school-I don't know. The point
is you're going to be able to do these things, and hold down a
job, because you majored in history.  Your education has taught
you how to