Commencement Address
Faculty, staff, administration, friends, family, guests, and my fellow classmates, the Emporia State University Class of 2006! Welcome to Commencement, the day that seemed like it would take an eternity to come. The day that when we took a campus tour as a prospective student, we probably didn’t even think about. The day that when some of us loaded up our vehicles with all of our worldly possessions and moved out of the home where we had lived for the past 18 years seemed like so far away. The day that during the past several months has kept us motivated and focused on the end result. Well, the day is finally here!
We’ve written our last papers. We’ve given our last presentations. We’ve attended our last student organization meetings. We’ve walked through the halls of this campus for the last time as undergraduate students of Emporia State University. Today is a celebration of where we’ve gone during this 2, 3, or 4+ year journey at Emporia State!
Emporia State University has meant something different for each and every one of us. For many, ESU was an initial culture shock. For some of us who grew up in towns of 500, 1000, or 2000, ESU gave us the opportunity to gain experiences we hadn’t received in our small towns and has exposed us to the diverse world we live in. For others, Emporia was a step down in size from their hometown population. For all, though, this college experience was a life-changing experience; it taught us how to stand on our own two feet and become responsible adults. We paid our own bills, managed our own time (or lack thereof, it seemed at times), changed our major as we wanted (which, for some, this was more often than others), and, most recently, began searching for a job, thus signifying the true beginning of our entrance into “the real world.”
Today, we not only celebrate where we’ve come during these past few years here at Emporia State but we also look to what the future holds for each one of us. We remember the all-nighters we’ve pulled to finish that group project; the hours spent in a faculty member’s office discussing where we see ourselves in 5 or 10 years; and the countless meetings we sat through in the rooms of the Memorial Union working with our beloved student organizations. Our majors and degrees may be different but each one of us, as we leave this campus today for the last time as an ESU student, has the adequate knowledge, preparation, and skill to enter the workforce in our chosen career paths. We must thank not only Emporia State University for this preparation for our future, but also our faculty members. To the faculty, I’m sure that each of one of you has positively impacted many of the graduating students today. You have encouraged us not to settle for average but rather you have challenged us to become more, more than we ever thought possible. You have become more to us than faculty members listed on a piece of paper as a reference; you have become our mentors, counselors, career coaches, and, most importantly, friends. As we prepare to leave this university and enter the workforce, realize that we are your protégés. Sometimes we were frustrated by grades, workload, group projects, etc., and our appreciation for what you were preparing us in the long run may not have been visible. Now, in retrospect, we respect you and admire you for this challenge. Consider this a personal thank-you to each and everyone one of you for making the decision to become a faculty member at this University and proudly shaping the minds of the graduates of the Class of 2006!
President Schallenkamp, on behalf of the Emporia State University Class of 2006, I would like to thank you for all you have done for the students during your time at ESU. You have positively impacted each one of us, and we thank you for this.
And now, finally, to my fellow classmates! When we walked on to this campus years ago, we barely knew each other. Since that time, Emporia State has served as a conduit for, as cliché as it may sound, making lifelong friends, friends who will all be tied together by a common thread—alumni of Emporia State University! Though our years as a student may end today, we will always be an integral part of the ESU community as an alumni member.
So, as we embark on this journey into the unknown, I challenge you to strive for excellence in everything you do. Remember, do not think of today as the end of a short story, but rather the beginning of a novel! I wish you each the best of luck, and congratulations, Class of 2006!
Last Updated July 2, 2007>