31 Mar 2004

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This website is meant to provide value to UW students by delivering information.

Please provide feedback on what I write as well as give me suggestions of topics to cover. You can send e-mail to me to ryan[at]uwryan[dot]com.

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Keep on building

In the world there are builders, wreckers, and neutrals. People in the first group create, build and continue endeavours as we progress in the world. The others detract, receive value, or stand aside, from the work of the first group. Those who wreck can only gain utility at the loss of others, but builders can create for the benefit of everyone.

At the end of the term, the final of many terms, this may be the last thing I ever write for Imprint and with it I want to encourage you to be a part of the first group, the builders.

Whether you choose to involve yourself in student organizations at university, in public service at all levels, or in non-governmental organizations; whether you work to help your family you community, nation or the world; you can find many worthwhile opportunities as a builder.

For egoists, who believe they shouldn't do anything except for themselves, you can find direct and indirect benefit. You can gains skills, influence, and stimulation by creating and participating in endeavours. By contributing to furthering civilization, others will see the value in a situation of participation compared to the inferior way of working against ourselves and each other.

The altruists do not need a reason.

At UW I have been lucky to be driven to, able to, and also to have received benefit from participating in various endeavours. They have provided me with myriad, rich, and memorable experiences.

Thanks to Randy Barkman the founding editor of Imprint. Thanks to Sandy Atwal and Dave Fischer and all the good editors who followed them and with whom I have had the benefit of working. Thank you to all my colleagues in other organizations and in the university.

To those who will continue and come after me and continue to build in these endeavours, "Good on you."