High School Grads Told Life is Like a hike

The Herald Democrat from North Texas and Southeastern Oklahoma has an article by Kathy Williams titled "DHS Graduates On Their Way" in its 27 May 2007 issue recording the graduation ceremony of Denison High School's class of 2007. The speaker was Dr. G. Don Taylor of Blacksburg, VA. Taylor's commencement address was keyed in to the symbolism of 'life as a path to be walked.'

"Taylor had just the words to instruct them how to embrace the future as he described, “A Walk in the Forest.” He said near his home in Blacksburg, Va., the Appalachian Trail beckons. He and his son took a walk through that forest, beginning Feb. 24.

"“Please remember to put my remarks into the context of your own journey in life,” Taylor said. “The AT is a 2,168-mile journey ... it represents one of the greatest physical challenges in the United States. It also has spectacular awards, from panoramic vistas of flowering fields, on high mountain balds, with numerous cascading water falls, and other simpler offerings of nature’s treasures.

"“The plan is ambitious and the trail is tough; the trail is cold and is sometimes exceedingly hot; it is sometimes rainy and sometimes dry; it is sometimes uphill and sometimes downhill. It is inhabited by wild animals and sometimes by very scary people, but sometimes by a variety of gentle creatures and interesting and motivated people. At times a hiker can enjoy views from a mountain summit and at times, he or she can barely see the trail in the dark valleys. However, if one is patient, if one maintains a positive attitude, almost all aspects of the trail can be appreciated.”

"He said the savvy walker understands that the greatest rewards are often the result of the hardest climbs and the real reward is in the journey. The AP [sic!] is marked with white blazes, the regular trail; and blue blazes, side trails more challenging to follow and less traveled. Some hikers also become bushwacker, creating their own trails, the hardest and slowest way to walk the trail.

"He said the lessons of the trail are that “you must hike your own hike; choose your on path based on your talents; choose your own level of comfort; choose your walking partners wisely and take responsibility for your own journey.”

"He referred only once to the tragedy at Virginia Tech, said, “Don’t dwell too much on the rainy days in life. Get up and walk fast and far and achieve every day. The rainy days do not define us, it’s what we choose to do on rainy days that does define us. As you all know, we’ve had a few rainy days lately at Virginia Tech, and we continue to walk, fast and far.”

"He said it is important to lead in the walk through life. One should walk like Neil Armstrong; walk like Rosa Parks.

"“How far you walk is important, but the effect you leave on the forest is much more important,” Taylor said. “Always remember that perseverance is more important than talent; the reward is in the journey and finally, when your hike is over a lot of good people will still be in the forest, so ask yourself, will the trail be better because I walked it?”"