College of Education Commencement Address
George C. Wright, President
Prairie View A&M University
May 15, 2006
The University of Texas at Arlington

Good Evening. I am so happy to be back at a place I called home for 8 years. Jeanne Gerlach is my friend. First, I want to extend my congratulations to the Graduates. This is your day; this is a very very special day. You and your parents have every right to be both proud and pleased with your accomplishments and with all that today means. You are graduating from an excellent University. Graduating, however, does not mean an end to your relationship with this Institution. From this day forward you become an alumnus or alumna of this great University.

By taking advantage of what UT Arlington has to offer, you are leaving here with not just a degree, but most importantly, an Education that will serve you all of your life and upon which you will build.

Graduates, I suspect that “Flexibility” is one important quality you learned as a student, that is the ability to adapt quickly to changes whether these were technological changes or new ideas. This is especially true in our high speed technologically driven world, where change comes rapidly and where there are great demands for quick adaptation.

And despite all of the impressive advances in technology that have occurred, more will follow because technology continues to evolve and some adjustments and adaptation will be necessary in the future for you to meet these new demands and new challenges. Clearly, the education you received here at UTA prepared you to be flexible for this ever-changing world.

The flexibility you learned as a student at UTA is not confined to technology: your college education will also serve you well in dealing with other people and their differences, whether the differences are in religion, race, gender, age, geographic locale, or in the social, cultural, or economic areas.

Many years ago, as a student at the University of Kentucky, I took a number of courses that touched on the Jewish experience, especially during the Second World War. This had such a great impact on me that I felt compelled to travel and see first hand the results of what the Jewish people had endured during the 20th Century. I went to Munich, to both sides of a divided Berlin, and to other major cities in Germany. I visited Poland to see the beautiful city of Cracow where Jews once lived and to see what had been the Warsaw Ghetto and the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. I also became interested in Islam, and other religions, which led to my visiting Istanbul, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Singapore, and Vietnam. My interest in all of these places, their religious beliefs and traditions, originated from my education.

Graduates, whether you remain in Arlington or move around, there is no question that you will encounter people of other religions. It is essential that you move beyond just tolerating other people’s religions to truly trying to understand them and to respecting them and their differences with your religious faith.

I have no doubt that as a student here you met at least one person who was “different” from you. Perhaps the most striking “difference” in your time here, and perhaps into the future, has been meeting someone of a different race. And, I suspect that while you were here, you heard people proclaim their support “for Diversity.” But, the more you talked to them, the more you discovered that they had numerous reservations about Diversity.

Graduates, in the world of your immediate future it will be more important than ever to examine and understand—not simply dismiss—these reservations. Indeed, I challenge you as college graduates to continue learning about and embracing “other people.” It is important to appreciate the unique contributions made by others to our society and the world. This appreciation creates a bond and a realization that we are in the same “boat together” and that we need to find ways to cooperate for the good of all. We must continue to strive to bring people together.

To me, this is most important because the more you learn about “other people,” the more you realize that “other people” are very much like you. They are not that different at all. As you move to the next phase in your life, I urge you to continue exploring other cultures by reading, by taking the time to attend programs and seminars, and above all, by traveling to countries outside of the United States.

I would argue that these ideas and issues related to Diversity are more important to you than others, because as educators, counselors, and future administrators, you will interact with and become responsible for the education of a range of people from cultures, races, religions and even socio-economic backgrounds that are different from yours. And your ability to embrace those differences and find commonality will serve you well throughout your career.

I am sure that as you navigated your way through this University you realized that there is such a thing as too much flexibility. Being completely flexible, being willing to change how you do things and your beliefs at the drop of a hat, has its drawbacks. Without our core beliefs we can be left not knowing who we are and we can lose sight of what is important in life. We run the risk of becoming free floating, detached, cynical, and confused. That is why it is so important to have balance, to have some continuity, with the flexibility.

We have continuity when we retain important values from our past. With the rapid changes in technology and ideas today, we must—constantly—reaffirm those values that have stood the test of time and change. Graduates, it is now your responsibility for preserving and passing these values to the next generations. These values include honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior.

Graduates, as you leave UTA and move into this ever-changing world, you need to know, to be able to discern, what you must hold onto from the past. If it seems as if things have changed to the point where honesty and ethical behavior are being ignored, then you need to insist that some things must be done the way they were in the “Good Old Days.” This is not always easy. In fact, it can be difficult in an ever changing world where it seems the old rules no longer apply, and where you will be labeled “Old School,” or worst for embracing and promoting traditional values.

Being honest, keeping your word, or being a person of integrity, may sound like “Old School.” But, I have no doubt these very positive attributes are still necessary in the world you will now enter. They are as important as ever for maintaining an orderly society where people know what to expect and how to act based on truth.

Furthermore, these attributes remain the “keys” to a successful and rewarding professional career in any field. I have had the good fortune to meet prominent people who are successful in business, in medicine, law, education, and politics. I have met dozens of men and women who sit on governing boards of Universities, both public and private. All of these people—to a person—work extremely hard, are kind and generous with their praise of others, keep their word, and are honest and forthright in their dealings with others.

Flexibility coupled with a healthy respect for certain basic values are positive attributes that I learned from my Mother but which were certainly reinforced while I navigated my way through my career and my life. But, there are other things I learned, too; like a commitment to service. It is important that all of us give back to the University and give to others through mentoring and by helping to provide opportunities for them.

As alums, you must give back. You must help support this University by service and when you become able, by financially supporting this important University. Furthermore, you can add your voice to those who continue to remind those making public policy that providing excellent, affordable education to the people of this state is one of the most important things a government can do.

You, as Graduates and future policymakers, must also find innovative ways to provide access for other people to attend this University. When we broaden our avenues for inclusiveness, we will automatically embrace opportunities for “diverse students,” especially those who are right here in our back yard. We must open the doors wide to young, Hispanic people. We need to keep the doors of UTA open to International students from all over the world. And when we open the doors, we must be sure to mentor those who come, because mentoring is a form of service. In mentoring there is so much that you graduates have to offer, that you can pass on to other young people. You can help them understand the core values of society. You can help them become grounded in the basics of a good education, just as you were here at UTA.

You have learned so much here, perhaps more than you can even appreciate right now. Flexibility and adaptability in meeting the new demands of technology and in interacting with others; holding on to values that will sustain you during difficult times; and confidence in your ability to aspire to and to reach lofty goals. These are just a few benefits you have received as a result of your education.

Conclusion

Graduates, I want to close by challenging you to do like my teacher Mrs. Mary Roach did, and plant some seeds in the students you come in contact with so that some day they will benefit from having known you. Each and every one of you can make a tremendous difference in the life of another person. We can all plant something for someone else to harvest. When I look throughout History, the people I most admire are not often labeled as “great” or praised by the larger society but are people committed to “truth,” and who in their own ways believe that their little part of the world would be better because they had come that way. At the very least all of us as teachers can serve as role models for the young.

My final comment is one that I am sure all of you have heard before, yet many people choose not to believe. Those of you who will be teachers in grades K through 12 are going into the most important jobs in the world. I know that teachers are not compensated anywhere near where they should be. Yet, when have money and importance ever gone together? If money is the standard by which to judge the importance of an occupation then a rock star or a heavyweight boxer is the most important person in the world! I know of nothing more significant than being in the position to inspire our young, to challenge them, to help them learn about justice and right and wrong. As a college professor, I have the unique opportunity to be engaged in critical inquiry with the very bright students; but those of you in elementary, middle, and senior high schools truly make a difference at crucial points in the lives of our children. Because of that, you have the unique opportunity to help shape our society and world.

Dean Gerlach, graduates, families, friends, faculty, staff thank you again for having me here on your special day. I wish you all the very best.