I am going to be graduating with a degree in music performance with a jazz emphasis. It is no secret that finding secure work from this degree is almost non-existent.
The marketable musician is a very individualized enterprise. Never in my entire life have I had the opportunity and privilege of being able to meet so many people from so many different walks of life in the mere 5 and a half years of being in college. Some were versatile, others more focused in one specific scene. Some from more fortunate family backgrounds, others from less fortunate. Some aren't musicians at all. But they may be providing for you some day, even if it is highly indirect.
Nevertheless, it is a time to remember who has inspired us and what makes us want to give back to that group that has supported us. It is also a time to recognize those that you know you can help no matter what and you know you can trust them in times of dire need, and how this organic solidarity is evident. The future is ours to shape and will be our historical product.