Discovering my fountain of youth

Steve Mann 82C (right), seen here with his son Justin, found his fountain of youth at his 25-Year Reunion during Emory Homecoming Weekend.

by Steve Mann 82C, reflecting on his 25-Year Reunion

As I move deeper into middle age, I find myself doing the things people do to “stay young.” I try to eat right (if I have to look at another piece of salmon, I’m going to grow gills), take lots of vitamins and supplements, exercise, try to get at least seven hours of sleep a night and I try to have a happy outlook on life.

But in doing all this, I’ve come to realize that I’ve been largely treating the physical and that “staying young” results from also having a healthy emotional, intellectual and spiritual state of mind.

So it was with an “I just have to do this” type of feeling that I joined the planning committee for the Class of 1982’s 25-Year Reunion. I did this for a number of reasons. I wanted to reconnect with Emory—my four years there as I’ve consistently said were the four most wonderful years of my life, even though the last 25 years have been outstanding.

I also wanted to rekindle friendships and memories. Like so many of us, my memories of college lay dormant, waiting to be reawakened. I knew they were there and I wanted all of them back. And finally, I wanted to introduce my son, Justin, to Emory, because I felt, if he could feel one iota of what I felt about Emory and my time there, he would want to apply as he approaches application season.

The reunion was all that I hoped for and more. Walking the campus and seeing how Emory had evolved made me feel part of something greater than myself—something that I want to be a part of in the years to come. Visiting with old friends and former professors like Ken Stein, William E. Schatten Professor of Contemporary Middle Eastern History and Israeli Studies, was wonderful. Ken engendered in me a passion for intellectual curiosity that has been a foundation of my success to this very day. From every perspective—the physical, the intellectual, the emotional—my reunion stirred in me a primal passion to be part of this amazing “tribe” and to protect and nurture it, in much the same way I feel about my own family.

Now maybe I’m a sap. Maybe I’m a bit overemotional and attached to my past. But I don’t think so. For my fellow classmates who decided not to come back to campus for Homecoming, I truly think you missed something wonderful—something that would have reawakened things deep inside of you. I strongly encourage you to attend our 30-Year Reunion. In fact, I courage all Emory alumni to attend their reunions, no matter what year you are. You won’t regret it.

Reconnecting with Emory has provided me value I never thought possible. For one thing it provides an immutable link to my own past, which I have undervalued to this day. I also realize how valuable the institution is, not only to me personally, but also to my family, my community, and the world at large. As a result, I’ve recommitted myself to helping it evolve and succeed.

Watching my son Justin go from being disinterested in anything having to do with college to saying to me, “Dad, I should apply early decision,” was one of those eureka moments. I couldn’t stop myself from pestering him, asking how he felt about the school. I was ridiculous—such a father! But his simple statement tells me that wherever he goes to college, he’ll be OK … he’ll succeed … he will be happy.

But something totally unexpected also happened. In walking onto campus, smelling the pine needles, and in seeing my fraternity brothers and old friends, I was transported back in time, not only rediscovering memories, but feeling 18 years old again.

I relived the day my parents took me to campus for the first time. I was back walking Fraternity Row to my first rush function at the AEPi house, and hearing Born to Run playing from the back hall of the house. That’s when I said to myself, “This is for me!”
           
Once a Jersey boy, always a Jersey boy.
           
I had discovered my own personal fountain of youth. No matter how old I get, no matter what happens, I had discovered something that will keep me, as Bob Dylan said, “Forever Young.”
           
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to take my vitamins, eat my fish, and exercise but I’ve recaptured something I didn’t think possible, my inner youth.
           
Thank you Emory.