Tubman University: “Opening Convocation”

KEYNOTE BY REPRESENTATIVE, HONORABLE P. MIKE JURRY

Opening Convocation is a college event that welcomes the beginning of the new academic year. It is a formal academic ceremony that highlights and provides an experiential learning opportunity for all of our students.

In August 2010, I was in the position that you are in today, as a first-year student at Tubman University. After a few years, today, I am delighted to have the opportunity to share my thoughts for you to contemplate as you begin your life at Tubman University (TU).

Although this may be your first college convocation, you probably know that such academic ceremony has a certain agenda. Typically, the University asks a person to give you a speech. I have come to give you a speech full of obvious platitudes.

Therefore, in a few moments, I will share my thoughts, some of which you may not have considered before.

In three (3) platitudes, during the next few minutes I will suggest what I believe you must now begin to think about more deeply as you begin your TU adventure. I will raise some thoughts about which I hope you have constructive and productive intellectual struggles during your time at TU.

Firstly, you should be fully confident that you have made an extraordinary amazing wise decision to come to TU! You are entering a top-notch university in Liberia. For example, in my opinion, TU is one of the top leading universities in Liberia!

As TU begins its 9th academic year, it is positioned like no other university in the Liberia to continue to fulfill its role as a “southeastern university with arts and sciences tradition.” That is the reason why I believe so strongly in the future of TU? Because TU has a unique confluence of several strengths that are propelling it into the future:

• TU has a tradition of excellence in faculty and students.

• TU faculty members are very qualified and experienced.

• And, TU students are excellent. In terms of test scores, TU is excellent in Liberia’s history! Beyond test scores, TU graduates have demonstrated an affinity for leadership. I believe in the ability of TU graduates to contribute to our community and to impact Liberia in a positive way. Indeed, we take seriously the description of TU as “transformation for excellence.” I am expecting that you, through whatever your life and career path, will benefit the society, the community in which you choose to live hereafter.

• TU has been ranked as the most beautiful campus in the nation. Let me say this: Life is too short to go to college on an ugly campus. You have chosen to be a student on one of the most beautiful campuses in Liberia!

• Secondly, in addition to faculty and student excellence, you must remember who you are at TU. You are students!

• I know what it means to enroll at TU. When there will come a time to sacrifice all other things to study for no instructor or professor will spoon-feed or mollycoddle you for your education.

• I know what it means to experience transportation challenges at TU. When there will come a time for you to walk to and/or from campus. A hard decision that TU will have to take in the midst of national economic challenges.

• I know what it means to complete your studies at TU. When TU places little importance on a person’s social class, gender, race or religion. You have to study well for hard work, individual initiative, and leadership toward your academic achievement create opportunity for graduation, even if it takes several failures to get there.

• I know what it means to live here in Harper City. Where much greater importance is placed on one’s family background, the school one attended, one’s ethnicity, and religion; because, almost everyone knows each other since the town’s population is small. Our Maryland County tradition, and especially Harper District, values are the thesis are based on who you are.” Also, we care much more about where someone is going than where they have been. We care much about family background or ethnicity. These values are what you will experience in the Harper community while you are at TU.

• Thirdly, I invite you to look around this crowded hall, and see the people who surround you, your classmates and roommates; they will become your best friends. And maybe a few of you will even find your life’s partners here. The faculty and staff are here too and while they are unknown to you today, many will become your lifelong mentors and friends. With tears and cheers, the alumni, faculty and staff will continue to love, support, and root for you in a new maturing relationship that recognizes your adulthood and freedoms, along with your newfound responsibility and personal accountability at TU.

TU is a table of your life. In my life, I have found the table to be an appropriate metaphor for the places where people gather. I have learned a lot in my life – as a child in my family – from listening to others and being included at the family table. And I have especially enjoyed being at the TU table when it was full of guests. I have found community at many tables in my life – the dinner table – the communion table – the classroom table – the library table – conference room table and now the legislative chamber room table. We gather with a shared purpose and form community with one another around many different tables within Tubman University and you are personally invited. I want you to feel included and welcome and see TU as nourishing and open to you. Allow me to explain further.

The table at TU is nourishing. I want your entire lives to be positively impacted by TU – academically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. Four years from now, I want you to look back on your time at TU as truly transformational. I want your life and future to be bolder, bigger and more impactful than you could ever imagined. I used the word “nourishing” because TU will be your alma mater and the Latin translation of alma mater is “nourishing mother.” Begin today to seek out your best options for ideal nourishment at TU and be open to the guidance of expert faculty and staff who will offer ideas and inspiration for you.

I will expect much from you – higher education is meant to be rigorous, exhausting, and satisfying. TU will provoke, test and push you. And just like food on the table, you may be served items that you do not like, items that are tasteless or – ones that you appreciate and enjoy. But they will lead to your greater, overall nourishment – they are crucial in strong education. Through the full experience, you will learn to revel in life and mind.

Lastly, and importantly, TU has a deep sense of community. TU’s faculty and staff members wake up every morning, thinking about how to provide a stimulating and meaningful educational experience for you. You are the reason that they have dedicated their work lives to researching new knowledge and disseminating it to enrich your intellect, leadership skills, character, and spiritual life! The multi-dimensionality of your TU experience sets your experience apart from what students receive at other universities. So, for all those reasons, your excellent judgment is already apparent by your presence here today!

So, those are my thoughts and advice that I wish to share with you and that I hope you will think about more deeply beginning today.

I thank you!