West Virginia University - News and Information Services
Honors Convocation Remarks by Jason Parsons, Student Body President
West Virginia University
Commencement Honors Convocation
Friday, May 16, 2008
Jason Parsons, WVU Student Body President
Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, parents and families -- good evening. To the Class of 2008, congratulations on your great accomplishment! On behalf of all of your fellow students, I am honored to share this evening with you and your families.
Tonight we honor each of you for your great accomplishments, and we thank you for the significant contributions you've made to WVU. I'm sure it seems like only yesterday that your loved ones -- those gathered tonight behind you and beside you -- were dropping you off at your new home at WVU, helping you unpack and saying goodbye before then beginning their long journey back home without you. Now, those same folks are gathered tonight to see you off on your next journey. You leave tonight more full of pride than the day you arrived, and so do they. In so many ways, you've made the journey together and tonight your progress and success are also a testament to those family members here tonight.
This evening ceremonially marks the end of your academic life and the beginning of the rest of your life, and I want to leave with you tonight a few parting thoughts.
Let me just say first, I can't give you any insights on the meaning of life; I'm still yet trying to figure that out myself. But what I can tell you is what we all already know. We have been so very fortunate to have the opportunity to spend a part of our life at West Virginia University. It was here that we've grown, and you leave with fond memories and lifelong friends, a deep pride in the gold and blue, and ready to make your mark on the world.
We live in ever-growing culturally diverse and creative times. Look around you; your graduating class is much more diverse than it would have been 30 years ago. From our differences, we've widened our view of the world that awaits us, and from the more important things that we have in common, we've learned that we're truly part of a global community -- and, of course, you've come to love your alma mater -- and each other.
We have a profound responsibility -- much more compelling than that of the generations before us -- to continue making your mark. We have an obligation, in addition to the successes we will achieve in our careers, to work to create a better world, to do our best to reach out to those around us in suffering, to contribute to our neighborhood associations -- and to our global village. To do anything else would be the antithesis of what we've learned here because growing up is not purely a function of age. It's not only this Commencement ceremony that marks growing up. It's not just the milestone of throwing your first party where you also serve food, but it's the time when your character defines your service and when you fulfill your commitment to give back to those around you.
WVU changes lives. Look at what each of you has been able to accomplish in your short time here. Each of you has the distinction of graduating with honors. Look around you, and you can see the faces of future world leaders, future doctors, future scientists, future teachers, businessmen and women, mothers and fathers, neighbors, friends, loved ones -- and on each face, you will see a Mountaineer. The dictionary will tell us that a Mountaineer is a climber of mountains, those who climb up the rugged side with grit and determination. That's who we are. Leave tonight more committed to keep being the climbers of mountains.
And in summation, I will leave you with the words of "Simple Gifts":
Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,
Tis the gift to be simple, tis the gift to be free.
Wherever you may go from here, as you leave to begin your life somewhere in this world, always remember there's a country road to take you home to West Virginia, which is where it all started for us.
Good luck and Godspeed. Thank you very much.
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