Commencement

Commencement Address

Donald Claycomb, PhD
May 10, 2008

Thank you President Fox. Today is a big day. Congratulations to those of you who will be crossing the stage and congratulations to those of you in the audience who are here to see a graduate special to you cross the stage. Linda and I share in your elation. We have two sons, Scott Blake and Sean Blake plus a daughter-in-law Jennifer Segerstrom, who have crossed this stage in recognition of becoming graduates of Culver-Stockton College. Again congratulations to all and have a great day.

Recently I asked my senior staff what they remembered from the commencement speakers at any of their graduations or what they remembered from any commencement address they had ever heard. Only one remembered anything and that was that Bill Cosby spoke at her baccalaureate graduation and that he said education was important. In realizing that the group of us gathered in that room had collectively attended hundreds of commencement exercises and to have so little remembered was at first disheartening to me since I was feeling so good about President Fox's invitation. After all, it is an honor to be asked to deliver your commencement address at the one hundred and fifty-second annual commencement of Culver-Stockton College.

I certainly don't rank with Bill Cosby although my career has demonstrated I believe education is important. Not to be discouraged, being a life-long educator, I set a goal that you would remember at least one thing I say for a period of at least twenty-four hours. To accomplish that goal, which as we know I will never learn the outcome, I knew the message had to be simple and had to be short. My message is six words. Dream. Work. Trust God. Never forget. I have them on the front of my program. Although the message is only six words the fact that I am an educator tells you it will take several words to deliver those six. As a teacher I know that a message repeated at least three times is more likely to be remembered by the listener than one only stated one time. So get ready to hear those words again and again in the next five minutes.

Dream, work, trust God, and never forget are pieces of advice we each have heard many times. They are not new. Why did I select these six words? First, a person by the name of L.J. Cardinal Suenens, who was very influential during the last century, once said, "Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true." Dreams give us purpose. Dream big about all aspects of your life especially professional, personal, and service to others. In other words have balance to your life. Then set out to make the dreams come true. People I know who have actualized their dreams have worked hard and have worked smart. It does not seem anything substitutes for work in paying the price to make our dreams come true.

Words three and four we are reminded of every time we look at a coin and read the words, "In God we trust." Trusting God played an important role in the lives of those who shaped our country. Trusting God played an important role in the lives of those who have shaped Culver-Stockton College. Trusting God has played an important role in my life. Many times I've said, "God, this is over my head. I'll give it my all but I'm depending on you for the outcome to be best for all concerned." Trusting God has no doubt played an important role in the lives of many who have shaped you and made it possible for you to cross this stage today. I urge you to not only dream and work but to trust God.

Words five and six are never forget. Never forget those loved ones who are with you today in body or in spirit who are just as proud if not more so of what this day means and the dream they have had that is being fulfilled. You are in their heart today. Last, a point that in its power stands alone and does not need explanation. Never forget Culver-Stockton College and what it has done for you.

Six simple words, dream, work, trust God and never forget. Remember any of them for twenty-four hours and my address will have been a success. Practice them for a lifetime and you will be happier as well as the world being a better place.