Graduation Speeches

It's been one week since graduation, but some key points in the baccalaureate and commencement speeches have stuck with me.

The first was the a Bible verse I have always liked and it was the main focus of the baccalaureate speech by Kip Murphy and then my aunt wrote it into the card she sent me.
It is Jeremiah 29:11:

"For I know the plan I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."

It is disappointing to me to have received my diploma, applied to a large number of jobs and not being employed. I realize it will work out and I need to keep applying and continue to have a positive outlook. But hearing this verse and having it sent to me is a nice reminder that I am not in control of what happens, there is a plan laid out and I have to trust in God and let it work.

The next point came from the commencement speech by Dianne Dillon-Ridgley, a member of the board of directors of Interface, Inc. among many other titles. Her speech discussed many transformative moments in that have affected her life. It's interesting that once you think about it there are many moments in your life that have changed something enough that it made an impact. I would say one big transformative moment in my life was deciding to withdraw the down payment I had paid to Iowa State in order to enroll at Central. While at the time I knew Central felt like the place I needed to be, it was a hard decision because all my friends were heading to ISU. Sitting at my graduation I had no regrets of attending Central, I had so many more opportunities given to me academically and athletically, created many close relationships and achieved many great things.

Lastly, Dianne Dillion-Ridgley brought up the idea of human talent as a resource. A resource that is ongoing. Each person brings a different talent to the world and adds to another's talent. It is what keeps our society moving forward. Each of us needs to recognize our talents and use them as a powerful resource to better the world in which we live.

Thoughts After Graduation

As I look back on my time at Central there are a few things I find important that I wish I would have figured out sooner. These 10 thoughts are something I want my siblings to know when they start their higher education.


1. Take your education seriously from Day #1.
It took me a while to get into the whole groove of college level studying, but I wish I would have learned it sooner because I wouldn't have to have the disappointment of being .03 off of graduating with honors.

2. Take advantage of opportunities.
If you get the chance to study off campus-do it! To participate in a club, team or campus activity-do it! Each opportunity is a new chance to learn or meet new people.

3. Ask questions and for advice.
Take advantage of knowledgeable sources. Don't hesitate to ask questions when you don't understand, it helps you learn! Ask for advice, a fresh opinion is always helpful.

4. Create a network.
Early on you won't understand why this is so important, but when you start looking for internships and jobs it will be. The saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know", seems to be more and more true each and every job I apply to.

5. Remember gratitude and time management.
Thank those who help you and be grateful for everything you receive, learn and already have. Have a planner and manage your time well, it will reduce your stress. And always remember it will all get done, it always does if you work at it!

6. Enjoy the time you have as a student.
This is one of the last times, if not the last, you get to live with a bunch of friends, play competitive athletics and live a little carefree. After graduation you have to start taking more responsibility for your life, as do your friends. Each of you will take a career path you have chosen and it may not be in the same place. So enjoy the student lifestyle while you are in it!

7. Make your own decisions.
You know what your heart, gut and head are telling you, so listen! Don't let mom and dad make the decisions for you. Do what you will enjoy and go where you feel comfortable!

8. Do something you are passionate about.
Choose a major you enjoy. Why waste your time learning something you don't find delight in? If you don't like studying it chances are you won't like it as a career.

9. Believe in your abilities.
Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something! If you know you can, you will be successful. In everything you do, do your best and don't waste your talent!

10. Do what you say you will.
Nothing is more annoying than working with someone who says they will do something, but then never does. Make sure if you say you will do something you do it! Follow through on each task you set out to do and you will gain trust from those you work with and your levels of achievement will be higher.

Working in Teams

Many times throughout my college career I have been involved with teams, not just on the athletic fields, to accomplish a task. I have at times been on teams that worked well together and achieved at a high level, but of course there are always the team experiences that didn't go so well and you are stuck working on more than your fair share and stressed!

I have come to find working on teams for projects can have many advantages and disadvantages. And of course in many of my classes we have had to learn how to best work as a team in order to create more positives than negatives.

With teams it is nice to have the increased amount of ideas, getting to divide up the work and allowing members to focus on what they know best. This results in a better final products, which of course is expected by a professor if you are allowed to work in a team. However, the pitfalls of working on a team in a college course are the students who will not participate evenly because they clearly don't care about their final grade...as long as they pass. These members usually put more stress on the ones who want to achieve a high grade and have to make up for the slacking member. Meeting times are another downfall, college students have many obligations they have to meet and planning for a group to meet gets challenging!

I can say I have stressed out on probably far too many projects during my undergraduate career, but I don't like to just get by on them. I want to produce a result that I can be proud of. Last week was a prime example of it. Meeting with a my group we had 3/4 of our paper done early and waited for the 4th person to send it in. It came far too late and involved reducing the amount of sleep I got caused a lot of stress. But as usual everything was handed in on time. It drives me crazy when people say they will get something done, but then procrastinate and don't follow-through on the task! If you say you will do something, make sure you can and then do it...to the best of your ability!
I do enjoy group work and love the fact more ideas are thought of and more work can get done quickly. And I feel once I am in a job, where everyone is working for the same common goal, working in a group will become more enjoyable and less stressful!

End of My College Career

The days of putting on the Central red uniform are becoming less and less. Each time I load up my bag I realize my days as a competitive athlete are numbered. Knowing this makes each great throw sweeter and a bad day out that much more discouraging. But one thing I need to keep in perspective is 'I DID GET TO COMPETE IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS!' I was able to carry on with 2 sports, that I fully enjoyed for 4 more years after high school. Not everyone can say that and I don't regret a moment of it.

While at times the experience wasn't enjoyable in the current moment, looking back on it there was a lesson in each thing. It needed to happen to teach me about myself and my response. Each time something challenged me, I found a new level of determination, mental capacity and increased work ethic. I can feel good upon the completion of my career in Dutch athletics because I never backed away from a challenge and if I competed it was will all I had.

I contribute my growth as an athlete and person to the numerous coaches I have had at Central. Each one challenged me in a new way. Many of them genuinely cared about my growth as a person over my athletic growth. They knew athletics would end and life would continue. Therefore, helping their players develop skills that were helpful to them in the future would be more beneficial.

I didn't have a scholarship to play for 4 more years. But I did it out of enjoyment. I created friendships that will last long after my playing days and gained mental toughness and determination. I will walk away from my college athletic career without regret and 'what if' questions, because I finished strong and did what I enjoyed.

Central athletics will always be a part of me.