Press Release - Western State Commencement
OFFICE OF LT. GOV. BARBARA O'BRIEN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2008
CONTACT
Ellen Dumm, 303 866-6361, ellen.dumm@state.co.us
Wil Alston, 303 866-6323, wil.alston@state.co.us
LT. GOV. O'BRIEN DELIVERS THE WESTERN STATE COMMENCEMENT SPEECH
Time and Location: May 10, 2008: 10:00am, Gunnison, CO.
Thank you President Helman. Thank you to the trustees for your leadership and support for Western State College. And to the families and friends of the graduating class -- I know how much your support has meant.
It is an honor to share this day with you.
Commencement speakers are supposed to be "inspirational" -- to motivate you to go forth and do great deeds in the world. It's difficult to compete with the inspiration of the natural beauty of the Gunnison Valley around us, but I’ll do my best for the next few minutes.
You are lucky to have spent the last few years in such a spectacularly gorgeous place. Gunnison's beauty is exceptional, even in Colorado, where we are lucky to have some of the most beautiful valleys and mountains in the country. Gunnison maintained that true "western" quality.
And I am sure that many of you who are here today came to Western State because it is distinct. As a matter of fact, when I asked President Helman to describe the Western State students, he used words like "self-sufficient, independent, self-initiating, exploring and balanced."
He noted that these great surroundings bring a special type of student to Western State. One who wants to study, but also be able to mountain bike and snowboard. Clearly, you all studied or we wouldn't be gathered here to celebrate!
Preserve that part of you that wants to play and be involved in the community around you -- and balance that with the self-sufficiency and initiative that will make you the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.
These are all qualities that will serve you well as you enter this 21st century global marketplace. You are connected to the rest of the world like no other generation, even here in the Gunnison Valley, which we think of as an unspoiled, remote corner of our state. Your generation will redefine communication, transportation, community, economic activity and so many human endeavors because of the impact of information and technology in a global context.
Benjamin Franklin taught us to wish people success in their lives by wishing them to be "healthy, wealthy and wise." And I wish for you all three of these in your life after Western State -- but I challenge you to redefine them, too. Think of them differently than the generations before you, because I believe all three concepts have changed in my lifetime and will probably change again in yours.
For my entire career, I have worked on issues connected to being healthy and wise -- health care and education. What health and education meant 3 decades ago, when I was starting out, is only a small part of what they mean now.
There is one thing I can promise you today -- you can count on change, probably faster and more furious than any of us can imagine. Your ability to embrace it will be one of your best assets.
It was not so long ago that our health system was placed a high value on medical technology and drugs to cure our ills. The goal was to get better and better at treating disease. In the 1960s and 1970s, heart transplants and artificial hearts were heralded as a medical miracle that saved lives. Their inventors were heroes and still are icons today. There was little discussion about prevention -- the benefits of active lifestyles and healthier diets that could have decreased the need for heart surgery.
We have an alarming obesity rate in this country. About a third of kids are overweight. Colorado is the least obese state because we are so active, but our weight is still trending upward.
But in the past few years, we as a society have started to embrace the notion of going back to good nutrition and exercise as a way to live healthier lives. Walking and biking and less driving could change your life, and change the world. I challenge you to think about your lifestyle and make it "lean and green." You have the ability to turn this trend around. You'll feel better and have a lighter impact on the earth at the same time.
When I wish you good health, I am not wishing you good surgery or prescriptions; I am defining health as having the daily energy and vitality to pursue your dreams.
So now, let's talk about the wealth part of "healthy, wealthy and wise." This may be the toughest part....
I challenge you to rethink the traditional concept of wealth. Everyone here wants to be successful ... to make a mark on the world, to support yourself and your families and to help your children get an education. That's how one generation passes on the American Dream to the next.
But I challenge you to take that idea of wealth and make it something more.
We are coming to understand that in this global economy, we are not only competing globally, but we are interdependent on a global scale. What one country does effects others ... and what other countries do can affect even the Gunnison Valley. Your generation will lead the way in creating wealth that is renewable and sustainable.
I also challenge you to define personal wealth as being created by deep engagement in your community. Americans are some of the most productive people on earth. It can be difficult to find a balance between being a part of your community, your family and your job. Only you can create balance in your own life. And you will find that creating time for your family and your community is a way to create a wealth of relationships.
Education, too, has seen drastic changes. Certainly what you learned here was not what was being taught even five or ten years ago. The information explosion is happening by the minute. Our ability to access, analyze and share information is quite mind-boggling. It's not just YouTube videos that are going viral.... It's our ability to share knowledge.
What you learned here is just the beginning, whether you go onto to higher degrees or straight to your career. Virtually every job will have a technical component to it. We will all need to be more proficient at skills we never would have imagined just a few years ago. When I was in college, I used scissors, scotch tape and whiteout to write papers. Today I email speeches (like this one) to myself so I can work on them anywhere, anytime often using data from organizations that are thousands of miles away.
Those attributes you brought with you to Western State -- independence, balance, self-sufficiency and initiative and curiosity will be critical in combination with the knowledge and skills you take from Western State. So I wish you a life of learning, initiative, and understanding -- I wish you "wisdom." The world can always do with a little more wisdom.
I've talked today about the individualism and self-reliance that make the students at Western State so special. But I want to make the case for the importance of community, too. There are things that we do together that enrich the lives of all -- we create public places where we come together as a people -- in schools, parks, theaters, soccer fields, museums, and libraries. The quality of life that comes from a vibrant community creates its own kind of richness.
My hope for you is that as you go through life, you will be healthy, wealthy and wise. And that you will strive to spread health, wealth and wisdom all around you.
Finally, take pride in your degree from Western State College. There is a proud tradition in Gunnison. You're a part of that tradition now. You just need to take it global.
Please join me in giving the graduates a round of applause for reaching one of life's greatest milestones! Congratulations!
Thank you.