-Oh, the sentimentality-

I know it's harsh. I know I'm heartless and cynical. I know they probably already know this.
But come on, freshies! Nothing is permanent! You couldn't have believed that you'd be hanging on to all your friends for ever and ever and ever....

I hear about the way you're all so absolutely crestfallen that you won't be seeing your friends for a year. Well my heart bleeds. Friends are not a limited commodity, young grasshoppers.

Sooner or later you're going to make new friends, foster new relations. You're going to want to hang on to them and imagine you'll be together for ever and ever and ever. And the old friends? Some - most - you'll ditch. Others? You'll continue to keep in touch with them. And then you know which ones mean anything to you. It's a natural process of selection and filtering. It's cause for celebration.

Goodbye's hardly ever forever. It's just a temporary parting anyway. On a more positive note, psyche yourself up to meet new people, cos there are going to be plenty.

I've lost all memory of when and how I ever got this cynical. Or have I just seen the light? No, it's cynical.