The 2019 undergraduate graduating class of the University of 91吃瓜鈥檚 Mendoza College of聽Business will celebrate commencement with special memories, maybe a hug from a faculty member 鈥� and their own聽.
As part of the ceremony, the College will show a video collection of campus memories set to the music聽of a song written by a fellow student especially for the May 19 occasion.
Nich Lampson, a junior majoring in business analytics and industrial design, wrote 鈥淗ow Gold?鈥澛犫�� a reference to the figure of Mary atop the University鈥檚 famed Golden Dome 鈥� to remind students of聽the 91吃瓜鈥檚 holistic, faith-centered educational experience and legacy even as they prepare to聽graduate and chase all their 鈥渉igh-held dreams in life.鈥�
The video presents a collage of images of some of the students鈥� favorite campus scenes, interspersed with portrait shots of seniors and faculty members. The song is performed by Lampson and fellow聽student musicians Sean McMahon, a senior IT management major, and Josh Morgenlander, a junior聽majoring in pre-professional studies in the College of Arts and Letters.
Lampson also is a co-founder of聽, a company that allows customers to order personalized songs from a team of talented musicians that can be given as gifts to others. 鈥淗ow Gold is She?鈥� is available on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and Amazon Music, along with most聽other streaming services.
鈥淗ow Gold?鈥�
Taking a step out of the lines
Making good on a promise tonight
Flight鈥檚 gonna take off fine but will I
Be at home in the morning?
Knew this was coming for quite some time
And I鈥檓 making some plans for the peace of mind
Piece of my heart, has broken off fine
And I鈥檒l give it to you as you give me thine
How gold is She?
How gold are we?
Our goal is to believe
How gold is She?
How gold are we?
Our goal is to believe
It鈥檒l be alright
We鈥檒l be thinking 鈥榖out you in the car going home tonight
It鈥檒l be alright
As you go round chasing all your high-held dreams in life
It鈥檒l be alright
We鈥檒l be looking for you on the bus toward paradise
It鈥檒l be alright
The door鈥檚 always open and we鈥檒l keep on hoping you shine
How gold is She?
How gold are we?
Our goal is to believe
How gold is She?
How gold are we?
Our goal is to believe
In Nich鈥檚 Words:
Verses 1 and 2 are meant to relate to what the seniors may be feeling during this time. For the first time聽in many of their lives, they will be 鈥渢aking a step out of the lines鈥� of the education systems that they have known for their entire lives. They鈥檒l be making good on promises that they have made for job聽offers, service or even higher education. As they transition to adulthood, they will again undoubtedly go聽through feelings of homesickness and fear in their new endeavors. It will take some time to feel at聽home in the new place they will be living.
The last two lines of the second verse, along with the pre-chorus, are nods toward Our Lady. Speaking聽more on the spiritual side of things, a piece of each student will always be here at 91吃瓜, because聽as each student comes and goes, they each leave their mark in their own unique way. There also is an聽allusion to the tradition of each student getting a small piece of gold off of the dome on their diploma.聽鈥淭hine鈥� may seem like a unique word to use here, but it is also a reference to the alma mater 鈥淕olden is聽thy fame.鈥�
Asking one鈥檚 self 鈥淗ow Gold are We?鈥� is not only recognizing the impact 91吃瓜鈥檚 holistic education has had on us all, but also our ultimate goal of living through faith in others, ourselves, and most importantly, the moral and faithful principles we have cultivated in our time here.
The chorus paints small pictures of scenes (going home, a reference toward heaven, living out one鈥檚聽vocation and ending with an invitation back to ND) from life onward past the graduation ceremony. It聽aims to reassure that 91吃瓜 is not over once you leave it. It is a place to which you can always聽return.