Delivered by J. Michael Adams on the occasion of his first Commencement as President of FDU, May 18, 2000 |
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Commencement Address Introduction
Advice
Conclusion
IntroductionThank you for allowing me to share the stage with you today. You see, while you are completing your studies at Fairleigh Dickinson, I am celebrating my very first commencement as the president of this special institution. So I personally requested the opportunity to address this class, the Class of 2000, and to hopefully offer a moment of wisdom which might assist as you begin life's great adventure.I clearly remember sitting in your seats at my baccalaureate, listening to my commencement speaker who spoke for nearly an hour. And the thought that kept going through my mind was: “when is he going to ever end, so I can get my diploma.” And I confess, 30 odd years later, not remembering his message. The average commencement address lasts around 20 minutes but, even with the best speeches, graduates are fortunate if they remember just a few lines. Winston Churchill, in 1941, addressed a graduating class with more than 15 pages of text, all of his words no doubt well chosen and offering great insights into human affairs. I can almost guarantee that those graduates probably quickly forgot 99 percent of the address, but they could never forget his six most powerful words, which now are famous. He told them, “Never give in; never, never, never.” I often thought, at the risk of second-guessing one of that century’s
greatest orators, that it would have been more powerful and even more poignant
if Churchill would have merely proclaimed those six words and then returned
to his seat without another syllable.
While preparing my comments, I thought, “What could I possibly say that would be meaningful and personal to all the unique individuals here today — what message might you retain for 30 years?” AdviceAnd then I remembered a man much wiser than I who had already described, what I viewed as the secrets to a happy and prosperous life. I could do no better than to share with you the words of a friend of mine, Distinguished Teaching Professor Dr. Charles Morscheck. In these words, may you find your pearls of wisdom and may you remember and keep with you those that sing loudest to your heart.Dr. Morscheck's secrets were as follows: Do your best in everything you do. Build relationships of trust and mutual concern. See every problem as an opportunity for improvement. Get involved. Be slow to take offense. If an organization displeases you, join it and make it better. Communicate. Give constructive criticism in a civil and sympathetic manner. Give credit where credit is due. Speak truth to power. Speak truth to everyone. Give time to people. Rejoice in diversity of all kinds. Show up. Be curious. Listen. Care. Read. Write. Practice your skills and acquire new ones. Think and reflect. Exercise your imagination. Insist upon good planning. Be part of the planning process. Understand the relationships between things. Take advantage of the cultural resources wherever you live. Exploit the intellectual resources of your community. Find a mentor. Be a mentor. Make friends. Be a friend. Love someone. Practice random and systematic acts of kindness. Deserve to be proud of yourself. Find your calling and follow it. Cultivate your gifts and put them to the service of others. Learn through service. Enjoy your work. Eat and rest well. Conserve resources. Grow and flourish. Practice peacemaking. Love your God. And don’t try all of this at once. ConclusionI know the education you received at Fairleigh Dickinson University will serve you well. But please remember that what you have now is only the foundation. From here, the degree of your triumphs will be measured by your willingness to embrace new realities, adapt to changing times and seize promising opportunities. I urge you to have the courage to chart your own course, undaunted by others’ definitions and standards. Only you can measure your worth and determine the length of your reach.Congratulations, Class of 2000. The great adventure now begins.
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