Random Ramblings

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RAMBLINGS: A LIFE LESSON FROM LATIN

David Bryngil

Associate Director of Campus Recreation and Health Promotion

You can’t miss it on the MSU campus. This phrase is emblazoned on the university’s official shield. But perhaps if iconography isn’t your thing, surely you are familiar with this phrase because of pop culture. Whether you remember it being spoken by Robin Williams on the big screen or read it on a coffee mug, this one simple Latin phrase became ubiquitous in America in the late 20th Century. It is a simple two word phrase from an ancient language that resounds with a powerful meaning that rightfully provokes deep thought in all who speak or read it. Carpe Diem. English translation…Seize the day.

So, you ask, what place does this have in a campus rec magazine, other than for the author to demonstrate that he survived two years of mandatory high school Latin? Take a moment to ponder those words. Seize the day. The meaning is open to interpretation. Does Carpe Diem mean, grasp the opportunities right in front of you? Does Carpe Diem mean, live every minute of your life to the fullest? Does Carpe Diem mean, be extraordinary in the moment? The answer is “yes” to all of the above and more. The life lesson to be taken from this small but mighty two Latin word phrase is this: Never take the fleeting gift that is

...unequivocally campus rec provides students with a number of wonderful ways in which they can live the meaning of Carpe Diem.

your life for granted!

And why does this lesson apply to MSU Campus Recreation? Because unequivocally campus rec provides students with a number of wonderful ways in which they can live the meaning of Carpe Diem.

Pursue athletic glory on a club team or win a coveted intramural championship. Experience the exhilaration of an outdoor adventure trip. Push your physical boundaries through fitness. Step up and challenge yourself to be the best leader you can be, while making our community better because you embrace the importance of your student leadership role. Just have fun, appreciating the camaraderie and friendship that exists every moment of every day at the SRC. Campus rec, whether you have ever pondered it or not, abounds with opportunities that enhance your life in both meaningful and simple ways. Take a moment to think about that, and evaluate the ways this has already happened in your life, and the unexplored opportunities that still await you. Just don’t sit around and miss out on them! Carpe Diem, my friends. Seize the day!