Mariah McMullen offered the following remarks at the 2015 commencement ceremony on May 16.
McMullen graduates from the College of Education and Human Services.
“Good afternoon ladies and gentleman, family, friends, people who are wishing they never agreed to come today, and most importantly my fellow graduates!
“I want to begin by saying thank you to Chancellor Leavitt, the professors and their many hours spent in and out of the classroom to prepare us for life after today, families and friends for their constant support, advisors, coaches, staff members, and everyone involved with today’s commencement…
“And of course, by congratulating the Class of 2015.
“So, there are four quotes I would like to share with you today from people dear to my heart that I think capture the biggest life lessons I have learned these past few years here at Oshkosh.
“Ok. LESSON ONE: Dare to dream.
“It wasn’t too long ago we entered our freshman year of college, took our first steps on the beautiful, ever-changing, windy campus, most of us now refer to as our second home. As most of us were nervous, anxious, or scared and had questions such as: how am I going to fit in, how long can I sleep in and still make it to class on time, and do I really have to wash my own laundry, filled our heads. No matter what emotions we were overcome with our first day of college, we all had one thing in common: we decided to take a chance on Oshkosh to provide us with the opportunities every high school student imagines. We took a leap of faith to follow our dreams.
“It may have started small, like the students that dared to walk across Algoma without looking both ways, or the students who dared to walk all the way to the REC without a second pair of shoes or even more daring, without a student ID. Then our dares became bigger, such as the students who dared to travel half-way around the world to experience a new way of life, a new way of perceiving the world. The students who some day will dare to stand up against bullying, prejudice, and oppression. No matter the size of the dream or the extent of the dare, it is people like this that continue to advance our society towards reaching the highest standards of achievement. It is people like this that raise the standards and make a change. I now dare you all to dream your biggest dreams. And to not be afraid to fail in your aspirations. Knowing it is ok to make mistakes along the way. Simply, dare to dream. Like, my boy Walt Disney once said, ‘If you can dream it, you can do it.’
“LESSON TWO: Be a lifelong learner.
“The most powerful muscle in our body is our brain. And the most powerful thing in today’s society is knowledge. Some guy named Albert Einstein stated, ‘Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.’ Back when I was a short, loud, naive freshman I thought that sounded pretty dumb, mostly because I had no idea what it meant. But now as a short, loud college graduate I have come to find meaning in his statement. To me this means a constant drive to reach knew knowledge through research, relationships, and real-life
experiences.
“And maybe this is why I have decided to be a teacher, and go to school to learn how to go to school, and get my never-attractive school picture taken for the rest of my life, but most of all, because I love to learn. Learning and knowledge is a gateway. A gateway that can open doors to places we never knew possible. While receiving our education at UWO we have all learned how to learn, and have been taught not so much what to think, but how to think. Our professors have given us the tools to expand our knowledge in every direction possible, but that knowledge won’t last us forever. What we learned in last weeks class may already be considered “old news” compared to the knew knowledge that was discovered today. The new way to power vehicles or a way to cure cancer. As our world continues to spin, so does our way of thinking. Lifelong learning can enhance our understanding of the world around us, provide us with better opportunities, and improve our quality of life.
“LESSON THREE: Give back.
“After you walk across this stage today, you will be left with a piece of paper with your name on it. And a classy piece of paper I may add, but this piece of paper does not guarantee you anything. It means you will be left on your own to conquer the world. Graduating UWO means using your education to be successful and to give back.
“Give back to the world that has already given us so much. We’ve been given family to love us, friends to support us, and a life to live. My inspiration, Mother Teresa, once told me, ‘It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.’ Whether it’s when you’re fresh out of college and don’t have a dime to your name, or in your penthouse apartment overlooking Manhattan, know it’s not what you’re giving back but the way you do it. No matter how big or how small, giving is giving and that’s all that matters.
“Before I end with my fourth and final lesson, will all the graduates please stand up? I ask you today and trust me I don’t expect much from any of you, considering you probably already forgot my name and that’s okay, but promise me this take my final lesson into deep consideration as I conclude my speech:
“LESSON FOUR: Life is too short.
“Life is too short, so forgive, make mistakes, laugh, cry, hug, smile, be silly, but most of all, as my my BFF Lady Gaga would say, “Just Dance!” So, Class of 2015, may I have this dance?”
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