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Digitized by the Internet Archive
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https://archive.org/details/ciarla2006114muhl
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XXave you ever thought
about what it means to define
something?Towhatdepthmust
we break it down in order to
understand it in a way that it
will stick forever?
w
T T eoftenthinkweunder-
standsomething... untilweask
ourselves the question, what
does this mean now and what
will we walkaway with?
(/Uftm Kje fine
Let'sbeginwith somethingthatmost ofus areprooaWyclueless
me
about when itcomesto defining, youryearbookeditorincluded.
enX
Ciarla... what does itmean? Ithasgracedthe college's yearbook
h
Hf-
fW- covers dating back to the early 1900's and everyone pretends to
evei
know what it means.
The word Ciarla is actually
fwvt'A*- p-foce.
an Italian word which comes
fromtheverb Ciarlare, or "to chat/talk".The ideaofchitterand
spreadingknowledgefrompersontopersonisparalleltotheway
a yearbook presents information and spreads knowledge to its
readers! These ideas and captured bits ofknowledge will define
yourexperiencehere,in2006, formanyyearstocome. Justopen
up Ciarla, andyouwill rememberwhat it's all about.
Q
Ifit weren't for the chatter and spreading knowledge among
uestion the things
all ofus students on Muhlenberg's campus, all ofourwonderful around you. don't take any-
ideas would get nowhere. thing for granted, and know
thatone dayyou willwantto
beableto defineyourexperi-
ence here at Muhlenberg.
n
1
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Student
Li
Academics
Organizations
Greek
Life
i06
Athletic
Seni
90
Parent Pri
OPENING
3
|
Helm
President
Moments"
"Defining
that will be useful today"
4 DEFINING MOMENTS" FROM PRESIDENT HELM
—
Moments
Defining
Writing an essay forCiarla is, in many ways, like putting amessage
in abottle or inserting an artifact in a time capsule. I’mnot entirely
sure who amongthe Class of2006 willreadmy words this yearand
cannot guess who mayread them inthe future-orwhen. My hope is
to convey advice thatwill be useful today and, ifI am truly successful,
that will seem truthful to youyears oreven decadeshence, whenyou
happen to take your old yearbook offthe shelfandperuse its pages in
search ofyouryoungerself. Talk about a challenging assignment!
Atthis moment inyour life (that is the momentwhen I am writ-
ingthis, the spring of2006) you have alreadymade a good start on
the lifelong task ofdefiningwho you are. Ifyou reflect on howyou
became the person you are today, I suspectyou will conclude that- in
addition to the genes you inherited and the values yourfamily triedto
teach you-your decisions (great and small) have definedyou.
They will continue to define you. The cumulative impact ofyears of
decisions, andthe actions theyproduce, will determine who you are,
how people will see you, and (some day) how youwill be remem-
bered. Will you be honest? Will yoube kind? Will yoube patient
with your friends, your spouse, yourchildren? Will you love others
and express that love? Will yoube loyal (and ifso, to whatandto
whom?) Will you keep yourpromises? Will you be generous with
those in need? Will you investyourtime, yourtalent, andyourtrea-
sure in selfless or selfish pursuits?
The ancient Egyptians believed that when we die ourhearts are placed
on one pan ofthe scales and the featheroftruth is placed on the
other. Ifwe have lived a good life, the scales will balance. Foronce
I disagree with thewisdom ofantiquity; Itis notjustwhat is in our
hearts that matters- it is what we do, in life and withlife, that carries
the most weight. I am notreferring to careerchoices orcareersuccess
—though heaven knows I hope you choose a careerthatchallenges and
—fulfills you. Doctor, lawyer, accountant, teacher, artist, business leader
allthese andmany othervocations can benobleifpursuedwith
integrity.
When I was young, a quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure novel The BlackArrow, struckme as fundamentallytrue: “Words
are all very well,” one characteradmonishes the young protagonist, “but I look to deeds.” The same sentimentwas expressedto me in dif-
ferentwords by an aging hippyback in the ‘sixties: “What you do is yourreligion, man, everything else isjust lip service.”
1 hope thatwheneveryoureadthis you will reflect on these words and renew yourresolve to live a life ofleadership and service. Ifyou are
readingthis decades in the future, when I am doddering ordead, I hope youwill still value yourtime at Muhlenberg: the friendships you
made, the lessons you learned, the skills you honed, the dreams you nurtured, and the principles you embraced. Ifyou do, this campus will
alwaysbe yourhome. I hope youwill return often, love itwell, and support it generously inword anddeed.
OPENING
5
DEFINING
6
