A Toast to the Class of 2008
April 28, 2008
The Great Hall

Delivered by Dr. J. Charlene Davis

 

Senior Gift Co-Chairs, Matt Rullo and Mary Elizabeth Whitson present Class of 2008 Senior Gift to Dr. Brazil.

Welcome guests and the class of 2008.  I am honored to be asked to toast you upon the grand occasion of your graduation.  I am also anxious beyond all measure – being asked to address you was a privilege I would not turn down, but public speaking frequently makes me feel queasy, wish I were never born, and question my own sanity in agreeing to do so. 

Yet, looking around the room at so many of you whom I know personally and others I know by sight or name from being part of our wonderful Trinity bubble of a community, you are well worth any temporary discomfort.

The purpose of this toast is to honor you, congratulate you, and send you off to the big world – frequently toasts are an opportunity to give advice.  I have reservations about doing so to a group – can one size fits all remarks be useful?  But given the occasion and the precedent set by speakers and a captive audience who are listening carefully so they will know when to consume their champagne . . . how can I resist?

Think back – do you remember how you felt four years ago when you arrived on campus – afraid, excited, not sure what was going to happen next, perhaps not sure you’d made the right decision, trying to find all the offices and classrooms and figure out what your niche in this new environment would be? 

Whether Trinity was your first or last choice, you stayed, for a variety of different reasons all of you stayed.  And here are you today, preparing to leave what I hope has become a second home and good place in your memories, a place of intellectual and personal development. 

Perhaps today you are experiencing similar feelings of excitement, fear, anxiety, and wonder what waits for you – some of you have absolute and solid plans for life after Trinity, others of you are perhaps in the process of sorting that out, with some motivation from your parents.

I empathize with you, truly.  I did not come to Trinity as a student, but it was my first job out of graduate school, and I have to confess to having some feelings of ambivalence and uncertainty along with excitement about my decision to accept a position here. 

I was at the University of Kentucky working toward a Ph.D. in Marketing, my husband a professor at Ball State University in Muncie Indiana.  As I was finishing my last year at UK I received a phone call one day.  The gentleman on the phone introduced himself and explained that his school, Trinity University, had an open position in marketing and would like me to consider applying and scheduling an interview at the AMA conference.  We talked for almost an hour;  he told me how great San Antonio was – cultural diversity, vibrant city, low cost of living, mild climate and how Trinity was a unique institution, exceptionally bright, students, beautiful campus, ample resources, and great colleagues.   

We hung up and I thought, what a wonderful, intelligent, and persuasive person --- but there’s no way in hell I am going to a school I’ve never heard of, in Texas of all places!  End of story, or so I thought.  

That evening I spoke with my husband on the phone and in a “oh by the way” manner told him of my earlier phone conversation.  His reply – Trinity called YOU?  Yes I took slight offense at that, but more importantly to my story, he said Trinity is an excellent school, anyone who is familiar with the best of higher education knows of Trinity, you should consider following up.  I mentioned my plan to look for a position closer to home, family, and his work and asked “what about the distance” and he said, smartly, “that’s geography, we can figure that out, this is your career”. 

In one sense this is not a good story because you clearly see the end result, I did take the job.  But, there were a few wrinkles on the path to standing here today.  I was offered the position and turned it down – I think I shaved a few years off Dr. Van Eynde’s life (he was the department chair at the time).

But, my point, it all worked out for the best (for me and I hope for the institution) and here’s what I wanted to share with you, the graduating class of 2008 – yes, what professor can give a toast without talking about themselves and then offering advice?

Don’t be afraid of not knowing exactly where you are going or why.  Some of the richest and best experiences of my life have come to me when I wasn’t seeking them.  Plan a little, worry a little - the latter is an under rated skill, but do not attempt to plan your life so completely that there is no room for happy accidents and interesting turns. 

I am mindful that today, the next few weeks, and months as you transition to life after Trinity you may reflect on what you learned here – in and out of the classroom.  To aid you in that process I’d like to share some lessons I’ve learned or come to appreciate in my time at Trinity.

Be as happy as you can every single day. There are no do overs in this life.  Some may find this a superficial wish, but I’m guessing they are uhappy people and won’t take my advice anyway.  Happiness can come in many forms, but its effect is universal and it is my most sincere and dearest wish for each of you

And I have learned some things from this graduating class.  I’ve learned that 2:30 am IS the optimal study time or at least that’s what the time stamps on emails I received would suggest. I’ve learned that students will work hard if I remember to get out of their way and let them figure out some things on their own.  I’ve learned that anyone who has doubts about the future should work with our bright, engaged, sometimes silly, college students, it certainly gives me great hope and comfort and a sense that the world is in good hands.

So, to Trinity University’s class of 2008, raise your glasses with me

Here’s to not always being sure of where you’re going, but enjoying the ride.

Here is to doing what you love.

Here’s to family who know you well and STILL love and support you (perhaps literally).

Here’s to friends who enrich our hearts and unlike family love and support us even though they don’t HAVE to.

Here’s to happiness

Here’s to the class of 2008 – Rejoice in your life.

Cheers.