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| REMARKS BY FLORIZELLE B. LISER Thank you, Dr. Castillo. Believe me–I know how you feel. Yesterday, I watched as my daughter received her degree from Howard University's College of Nursing. Though today is the big university-wide graduation ceremony, she gave me permission to be here with you today. When she received her nursing pin, even though it was her accomplishment, it was also in a way a recognition of the contributions of the wide circle of family and friends who had helped her to reach this important point in her life. I am certain that this is also true of the graduates here today. No one graduating from UHD today has gotten here entirely on his or her own. So, before we honor the graduates, let us also honor the families and the friends who helped to make this day possible. I particularly want to say an early "Happy Mother's Day" and thank you to all the Moms. When Dr. Castillo invited me to speak here today, I asked him for some information on the school and its students. The more I learned about UHD–about its small class sizes, its dedicated faculty, and its innovative curriculum–the more impressed I became. But the detail that particularly caught my attention was the tremendous diversity of the student body here–something that Dr. Castillo commented on earlier. The wide range of ethnic, racial, and demographic backgrounds represented in this graduating class, as well as the presence of many older and non-traditional students, mark UHD as an institution that is a reflection both of the changes in American society and of our changing world. Such diversity has special resonance to me–both because of who I am and where I came from, and because of what I do. From a personal perspective, I have valued diversity because I am a product of it. As you might imagine, my ancestors came from Africa. What you may not know is how many stops my forebears made along the way. I grew up in a multi-cultural neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, but was born in Panama. My West Indian grandparents had settled there while the Panama Canal was being built. They raised their children–my parents–as bilingual citizens of Panama. When I was a little girl, my family–perhaps like some of you and your families–emigrated to the United States to experience and benefit from the opportunities that America offers. So I am an American citizen, an immigrant, Latin American, West Indian, and, of course, African. If that's not a representation of diversity I don't know what is. And in my professional life I have worked mostly in the area of international trade and development, with a special focus on Africa and the developing world. In that field I have worked with, and learned from, a wide array of people from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and elsewhere, as well as businesspeople from every facet of American society, including many minority- and women-owned businesses. Over the last few decades, diversity has increasingly come to be recognized as a good thing in our society. Having a mix of people from different backgrounds in our schools, our neighborhoods, and our work places is generally seen as a worthy objective. And, if you can believe it, American society is becoming even more diverse and more multicultural. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one-third of the U.S. population is now part of a racial or ethnic minority and traditional minorities are expected to be the majority nationally by the year 2050. In addition, over 12 percent of our population is now comprised of immigrants, the highest percentage in over 80 years. In short, America is beginning to look more like UHD. But there is another type of diversity that is also critical–the diversity of people with different talents, skills and gifts and with different dreams that are unique to each one of us. So my first piece of advice as you graduate today–no matter what your major, whether you are continuing your education or starting your first job or even if you don't know exactly what you'll be doing next–is to have a dream, one that is strongly tied to your strengths, your passions, the things that excite you, and that make you who you are. When I was in junior high school, I decided that I would become a lawyer. It was a decision based largely on the feedback I got from my parents and teachers about my ability to write, to articulate, to argue my point of view. So I went off to Dickinson College, decided to major in political science and resolved to become a lawyer . . . that is until I took a class in international relations my junior year and fell in love with what for me was a largely unknown but terribly exciting new discipline. My love for languages, my passion for learning about different countries and cultures, and my intrigue with world politics all shouted out to me that this was the field for me, this was what I wanted to study and pursue as a career. So I called my parents with great excitement, asked them if I could live overseas for a year, and said that I would not be a lawyer. Well... to say that they were not enthused is an understatement. What was I going to "be" they asked? These two immigrants who had worked double jobs and double shifts to send me to college and had bragged to all the world that their smart little girl was going to be a lawyer were in shock and could not understand why I would give up that dream to become something that at that time I could not even describe. But they reluctantly said yes to my living with a French family in southern France for a summer (not a year) and probably hoped that I would give up my inexplicable and crazy dream to do and be "something" in the field of international relations. For years after I got my masters in international economics, my Dad would send me articles from Ebony and Jet magazines with pictures and stories about black attorneys and judges–sometimes without even a note. Simply a reminder of that dream. But as I stand before you today, I can tell you that I have NEVER doubted or regretted the decision to go into the field of international trade and development. Though it took my parents a while, they eventually embraced my dream and bragged to all their friends that, while they didn't really understand what I did, that I traveled all over the world to do it, and was excelling at it. My Dad remained proud of me until he died at the age of 86 a few years ago; and my Mom, who is nearly 91, tells all the other seniors, the staff and anyone else who'll listen at her senior citizens home about the countries I travel to and, when asked, does her best to explain what I do. Today I have my "dream" job. It is the job that speaks to my soul and inspires me to use the gifts and talents I have to help those in Africa use their enormous resources to grow their economies and alleviate poverty. I could talk to you all day and then some about what I do, why I love it, and the difference I hope I'm making. But I won't. I'll simply say to you that no matter what you or others thought you would be when you were little or even when you first arrived here at UHD, you must know yourself, spend time reflecting and exploring your gifts, and create your own dreams. What you think and dream–and how you draw on the unique talents that you possess–will create the life you live. Les Brown, the motivational speaker says, "Find out what you want and go after it as if your life depends on it. Why? Because it does!" That leads to my second piece of advice–don't just dream, dare to take action. I was recently reading a book I purchased while at a women's retreat entitled Dare to Dream...Then Do It (by John Maxwell) . During the retreat, we were each given a "dream journal" and asked to take half an hour to write our dream–based on a scripture that advises us to "write the vision and make it plain." In Maxwell's book Dare to Dream, he points out several differences between daydreaming and daring to dream. He says:
So graduates–and even family and friends of the graduates–I dare each of you to write down your dream and to make plans for how you will accomplish that dream. Goals are nothing without action. And always remember that the first two letters of goal are "G-O"–"GO." My final piece of advice is that you anticipate challenges and even some failures, but never let them deter you from achieving your dreams. When you examine the lives of those who have been most successful in our society–whether in business, research, public policy or any other field–you will rarely find anyone who enjoyed a straight-line path to high-level achievement. And when these successful individuals reflect on their lives they almost invariably speak most fondly of the times they faced setbacks ... and overcame them. The Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho has written "There is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for." I understand that many of you have already overcome challenges to get to this day. So today I say to each of you, that no dream is accomplished without challenges, unexpected setbacks, and occasional failures that may lead you to doubt yourself. Anticipate those tough times. Vow today that you will only allow those difficult experiences to make you stronger and more determined to succeed at your dream. Before closing, let me take a moment here to recognize some members of the graduating class who have already begun to sketch out their dreams and make their marks on the world, whom I would like to invite to stand when I mention their name. As Dr. Castillo mentioned, one of the graduates whom I know personally is Daudi Migereko, whose father is a leading figure in the Government of Uganda. Daudi, who is graduating cum laude with a major in finance, hopes to play a role in strengthening the economic ties between the United States and African countries. He had an internship last summer at the Corporate Council on Africa in Washington and will be taking his talents to the business world after graduation, as well as pursuing his master's degree in finance. Hiba Zwiya's first step in her career at UHD was learning English in the English Language Institute. Hiba, a native of Lebanon, is the mother of a two-year-old daughter and intends to pursue a doctorate in molecular biology and conduct research on diseases such as cancer and AIDS. She graduates today Summa cum laude with a degree Biotechnology. Justin Sutherland is graduating with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies. He is the first of the grandchildren in his family to earn a college degree. A lifetime Houston resident, Justin has recently been employed by a Texas company in the H.E.B. Grocery Chain. When Betul Akin was eighteen, she defied the cultural norm of her native Turkey by coming to the United States alone. During her time at UHD, she has worked to contribute to her new society, serving in the Rain Drop Foundation, which helps bridge the gap between Turkish and American cultures. Betul's long-term goal is to become a pediatrician. She graduates today, cum laude, with a degree in Biology. Teofilo Chacon, father of four, worked 50 hours a week as a heavy equipment operator for the City of Houston while pursuing his dream of earning a bachelor's degree. In his spare time, he assists his four children with school activities, enjoys time with his wife and serves as a maintenance volunteer at his church. Today, Teofilo is awarded a bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology with a major in Structural Analysis and Design. Shawn Blanding Harris is a graduate student in the College of Humanities, and the first of her maternal family to receive a Master's degree. For Shawn, learning is her oxygen. She has dedicated herself to learning and passing on what she has laeraned to her eleven nieces and nephews, and continually encouraging them to pursue their passions and their education. Kristyna Chovancova is graduating Summa cum laude with a BBA in Computer Information Systems. The first in her family to receive a college degree, Kristyna has accomplished quite a lot in her young career. She grew up in the Czech Republic and will go on to continue her education at the University of Melbourne. Of her position as President as the International Business Association and other activities, Kristyna says "I value greatly my experience in extracurricular activities." Vien Lam is UHD's first Joint Admissions Medical Program student. She is receiving her degree in Chemistry, Summa cum laude. Vien will be attending UT-Houston medical School in the fall and was one of this year's recipients of the Brown Foundation Leadership Award. She is a Scholar's Academy mentor and the president of the Health Professions Organization. A native of Viet Nam, Vien has been in this country for fourteen years. These are but a few examples of the diversity, talents and potential impact on the world that all of you–the UHD graduates of 2007–can and will have. I cannot end without remarking on the exciting news I read in this morning's Houston Chronicle newspaper. The headline was "It's a good year to be a college graduate." I'm sure that many of you who are not pursuing advanced degrees at this time already have job offers and have lined up new positions. There has been a big spike in recruiting, businesses that have been surveyed say that they plan to hire nearly 20 percent more college graduates this year than last year, and the University of Houston reports that employers posted some 23,000 jobs on the university's online job service site. So I end by saying to the 2007 UHD graduates that this is your day and this is your time. The world awaits you, your talents and dreams with open arms. Again, my heartfelt congratulations to each of you and to your family and loved ones. May each of you dream big dreams and may those dreams–through your actions and perseverance–bless this country and the world. |
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UHD Undergoes Reaffirmation of Accreditation New Building to Open 2007 Campus Activities and Events |