Oddly, it is King's older speech that notes the ways in which technology has made our interconnections more visceral:
Drawing on this point and others that both MLK and Foster make in their speeches that coincide with the CLQ's guiding questions, write your own (very) mini "commencement" speech (3 paragraphs). What would you say to the Graduating Class of 2012? You can use the more formal rhetorical style of MLK or the seemingly casual style of Foster, but formulate it carefully. Think about metaphor, story within a story, referencing a scholar or thinker. Yours will be a short speech, so think first about the one point you want to make and how you will illustrate it though at least one of each of the below:Now it is true that the geographic togetherness of our world has been brought into being, to a large extent, through modern man's scientific ingenuity. Modern man, through his scientific genius, has been able to dwarf distance and place time in chains. Yes, we've been able to carve highways through the stratosphere, and our jet planes have compressed into minutes distances that once took weeks and months. And so this is a small world from a geographical point of view. What we are facing today is the fact that through our scientific and technological genius we've made of this world a neighborhood. And now through our moral and ethical commitment we must make of it a brotherhood. We must all learn to live together as brothers - or we will all perish together as fools. This is the great issue facing us today. No individual can live alone; no nation can live alone. We are tied together.
- course readings (see the way that MLK cites John Donne, Buber, Tillich etc)
- experience in the community (one insight from your time in the community--see the way that Foster tells story within his narrative)
- metaphor (both make much use of metaphor)
Graduating Class of 2012, by being here today, you have been given an opportunity others weren’t able to grasp, or for one reason or another did not accept. There are those who were not privileged enough to even consider the possibility of college, while others didn’t see it necessary. For those who are here but could be sitting in chairs next to you, make this accomplishment because this generation is the future that will behold the world. Coming from where I am from, I’ve people with tremendous potential to thrive at a University, but choose not to because it wasn’t what they wanted to pursue in life, or it simply wasn’t something they believed in. On the other side, there are those who do nearly anything under the sun to be in your seat, but being disadvantaged, they were never granted the opportunity. In some cases, there was just too much pride. Those who refused to ask for help, worried the world would perceive them as weak. There are an infinite number of reasons as to why there aren’t others occupying those seats that belong to you, and it’s because you did what needed to be done in the face of ambiguity, uncertainty, and other challenges.
ReplyDeleteThis world is about as certain as the weather, and the only thing certain about the weather is that it changes. Now is a time of great change. It has been a long, unpredictable, gratifying journey, one that has helped you to grow from young boys and girls, to men and women. As you take those final steps that you’ve so yearned to take since the beginning of you school career, remember what happened along the way. Sure, the goal, the destination itself, is important but it becomes nearly meaningless without the memories of all your trials and tribulations.
We learn through our mistakes, and that is why you are here today. I’m not saying that making it this far was not a mistake, but those mistakes are what helped you to get so far. Out there in the “real world” don’t be afraid of imperfection. Don’t be afraid of anything; the only thing to fear is fear itself. With this accomplishment, you have displayed the capacity to achieve anything you put your mind to. As they say, “the mind is a terrible thing to waste” but as I believe, the mind, body, and soul are intertwined so if you waste one, you waste them all; make it worth while. Never let your mind falter, may your body not become fickle, and may your soul never whither away. This marks the end of this endeavor, and with that you may take your next journey in any direction you desire. They say the world is supposed to end this year, but with a future as bright as yours, I find that hard to believe. To the Graduating Class of 2012, I am honored to say, congratulations
Commencement Class of 2012
ReplyDeleteDear Class of 2012
Congratulations on the beginning of a new journey, and an end to what has I’m sure been a wonderful adventure. Through out these last four years you have built strong friendships, learned from wonderful professors, and have worked hard to found out what your place in the world is going to be. Until now you have been sheltered in your studies, but now it is time to go out to the world and share what you have learned and make it a better place. As Martin Luther King once said in his commencement speech to Oberlin University. “Now to the members of the graduating class: today you bid farewell to the safe security of the academic environment. You prepare to continue your journey on the clamorous highways of life.” Today I say the same thing life may not always be easy, but the experiences you gain and the people you meet is whats most important.
When you entered college just four short years ago, I’m sure you wondered what you would turn out to be when you graduated. Would you stick with your intended major, or completely change your interests? Well now here you are, after years of hard work you are now ready to go out unto the world and make an impact. While at Dominican, you have also made an impact in the community around you, with community service you have outreached to the neediest part of Marin County, and the entire Bay Area, and I hope as Dominican University graduate you will continue to do this in your daily lives no matter what your career may be. In your years at Dominican you have also gained knowledge through your classes, and your teachers, four years of tests and papers and sleepless nights now with the same determination, go out and make the world a better place. It may not be easy but it will most defiantly be worth it. So for know, congratulations class of 2012 you have worked very hard, and are very deserving of this honor of graduating from Dominican University of California and I wish you the best of luck, in all that you attempt to do. Thank you.
Lauren Rocha
President Marcy, Members of the Faculty, Graduating Class of 2012, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to celebrate the completion of an educational milestone. To celebrate tomorrows leaders as we pass the torch of responsibility to the graduates of this fine institution. As we celebrate this educational milestone I encourage you to ask yourself What does education mean to you? What have you learned in your four years here as a student, a friend, a member of a community?
ReplyDeleteChances are that the experiences you remember best, the ones thats shape your memories of Dominican are not found in the texts of the books you have read, in the assignments you have completed, or in the sleepless nights you had telling yourself you would never procrastinate again, but rather the experiences you've shared with those you've met through class, sporting events, parties, and perhaps even as a successful stalker on Facebook. Regardless of how you met the people who will be standing by your side in the photographs that will be clouding my news feed in a matter of hours there is no denying that those same people are the ones who have shaped your education. As John Dewey once said "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."
So from this day forward armed with the knowledge of how much of a difference one person can make in another person's life and therefore education we must strive to to keep educating ourselves through the service of others. We must remember that relationships are the foundation of our future, of the success of tomorrow's leaders. Today's graduation is simply a milestone in our learning as we must continue to challenge our beliefs and the beliefs of others. To quote Mark Twain, "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so"
Justin Dorsey
New Beginning for Class of 2012
ReplyDeleteWelcome to a new beginning class of 2012! This is the end of one phase and the beginning of another. You’ve being in this institution for the past four years and hope that you’ve grown personally. Hope you enjoyed your time at Dominican, hope you’ve made everlasting friendships and have connected with them.
You are free as a bird, fly and fly away where the wind blows you away. Whether you’ll continue studying, go travel around the world, join the Peace Corps or just commit to your career; do whatever makes you happy and helps you find your purpose in life because no one wants to have a meaningless life. Live life to its fullest and never take for granted what others do for you or what you do with your life.
Make a difference in the world, if you see there is something to be done, step up and help out to make things a reality. I can say that my college experience has been great and one of the most memorable experiences was when I built houses for the Chilean people when the 8.6 earthquake hit that part of the world. Seeing the family’s grateful faces after finishing their temporary wooden house was the most meaningful experience I’ve had in my entire college career. Go do something that will help the community and make an impact.
This is only the beginning of something good. Congratulations for making it this far and keep on rockin’ it in the free world!
-Carla G.