Commencement Address

Today, we not only celebrate all of our accomplishments here at Emporia State University, but we also look to where the future will take us. 

A very wise author, Dr. Suess, says,

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

Although our majors and degrees are different, each one of us has been given more than adequate knowledge, preparation, and skills from our departments to succeed in the real world. 

We come from a university that has a School of Education that is ranked as one of the top four in the nation.  Our School of Business is ranked in the upper 20% of business schools world wide.  Our University offers the only Engraving Arts degree in the world and the only Glass Forming degree in Kansas.

Our faculty and staff, here at Emporia State University, have positively impacted each one of us in some way.  They have shared their knowledge with us and have challenged us to be more than average.

So, as Dr. Suess says,

              You have brains in your head.

              You have feet in your shoes.

              You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

              You’re on your own.  And you know what you know. 

And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

It is now time for us to move on in our life.  We must each choose a path for ourselves, and no one else can choose it for us.  Although it may seem scary to head out into the unknown, Dr. Seuss reminds us that,

              Out there things can happen and frequently do

              To people as brainy and footsy as you.

              And when things start to happen,

              Don’t worry.  Don’t stew.

              Just go right along.

              You’ll start happening too.

             

Remember to apply your knowledge and use your skills that Emporia State has given you, and then, “Oh!  The places you’ll go!”

              You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have HORNET speed!

              You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.

              Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.

              Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

But, Dr. Suess warns us,

              Except when you don’t.

Because, sometimes, you won’t.

There will be times when we will get discouraged.  There will be times when we don’t fly above the rest to succeed.

              You’ll come down with an unpleasant bump.

              And the chances are, then,

              That you’ll be in a Slump.

              And when you’re in a Slump,

              You’re not in for much fun.

              Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

When this happens, it is up to us to decide what to do next.  We can sit around waiting for something to change, or we can take action.  It is up to us to use our knowledge and resources that we have been given.  If we remember to use our skills, we will

              Somehow escape

              All that waiting and staying.

              You’ll find the bright places

              Where Boom Bands are playing.

              With banners flip-flapping,

              Once more you’ll ride high!

              Ready for anything under the sky.

As each one of us sets out into the unknown, we will ask ourselves

              Will I succeed?

              Yes!  You will, indeed!

              (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

We have been given more than adequate knowledge, preparation, and skills from Emporia State to succeed in the real world.  It is now up to each one of us to decide on how we will apply our skills and knowledge in our future.  If we decide to successfully apply our skills, we will succeed and “Oh, the places we will go!”

Congratulations, Class of 2007 and Good Luck!

 

Last Updated July 2, 2007>