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August 11, 2007

网曝门 Summer 2007 graduates receive diplomas

The University of Louisiana at Monroe awarded diplomas to 215 students at the 2007 Summer Commencement Saturday, Aug. 11 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

Paxton Oliver, associate dean of the College of Health Sciences, delivered the commencement address. In addition to his administrative role, Oliver is also connected to 网曝门 as an alumnus鈥攈e received his bachelor鈥檚 degree in government from 网曝门/NLSC in 1968 and his certification in speech and hearing therapy from 网曝门/NLU in 1973. He later received his master鈥檚 degree in speech language pathology from Louisiana Tech in 1975 and his doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1981.

Oliver opened his commencement speech with humorous questions of his own, acknowledging that the graduates鈥� excited anticipation to receive their degrees and take on the world was probably more on their minds than what he had to say. 鈥淚 have no illusions that you will remember my name or my message, but I am convinced that you will always remember your successful 网曝门 journey.鈥�

He continued by discussing the topic of failure, about 鈥渃oming up short and adjusting. I feel a speaker should talk about what he knows about, and I know about failure. Actually, anyone in the audience could give this speech. All of us have failed and survived鈥�I do not believe that failure is the flip side of success, but the essence of success. It is the middle phase of learning and overcoming.鈥�

Oliver mentioned that the process of failure marks someone as a success builder, not a loser. He relayed several examples to the graduates of famous, brilliant achievers who had at one point reached, failed, and had to reach again, including Isaac Newton (did poorly in grade school), Winston Churchill (failed the sixth grade), Walt Disney (fired for a supposed lack of good ideas), Michael Jordan (cut from his high school basketball team), and Dr. Seuss (turned down 27 times before finally having a written and illustrated book be published).

鈥淭here are many challenging opportunities awaiting you out there,鈥� Oliver advised. 鈥淗ow you adjust to coming up short will make or break you.鈥�

He gave an example of one of his own adjustments. 鈥淎fter five years of finishing almost at the top in the Outstanding Teacher Award at 网曝门, I asked, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 my problem?鈥欌��From 1973 鈥� 1995 my philosophy of teaching was to enhance a student鈥檚 failure and help them fail often. Now 鈥� who wants a winner of an Outstanding Teacher Award who loves for his students to fail and fail often? At the very least, parents and/or the President would have lynched me.鈥�

A rewording of his philosophy was in order; after minor adjustments to that and his teaching style, he received the award the following year. He had earlier failed to communicate that teaching 鈥溾�檖rovides a safe environment for students to test hypothesis and make mentored adjustments鈥欌�� underscoring that failure is not an absolute, it is a process. His adjustment won him a victory.

鈥淟ife is not finishing first in all your endeavors. Life is finishing the task even when someone else has passed you by. In the real world there are winners, adjusters, and losers. If you are not a winner on a given day, then research and adjust. Losers are those who do not adjust or adjust without accurately assessing or researching the situation.鈥�

Oliver instructed the graduates to remember that success and learning are both a series of plateaus, and that they should continue their risks, moving to the next bottom rather than merely staying on a declining top. After all, they will go from educational top to the 鈥渃hallenging鈥� position of post college bottom after graduation. 鈥淲here you finish depends upon where you stop, and you are the one to determine where you stop.鈥�

鈥淩emember that we have learned much from each other. You brought special and different experiences to 网曝门 and shared them with us. Faculty shared their special experiences with you and you tried their ideas. It鈥檚 your turn now and it鈥檚 your time now.鈥�

His concluding remarks advised the graduates not to be afraid鈥攏ot of failure, success with humility, greatness with a commitment to give back, the opportunity to mentor by correcting softly and praising boldly, or again of success, 鈥渆ven if success earns you a commencement speaker assignment someday.鈥�

Oliver congratulated the parents, significant others, family members, and the faculty for providing the support and safe haven the students had needed. 鈥淎nd most importantly, I would like to congratulate the class of 2007 as you graduate from 网曝门 and commence toward your dreams.鈥�

Kimberly Barrett of San Diego, Calif., is the top 2007 summer graduate. Barrett, a clinical laboratory science major, is the daughter of Norm and Marge Fowler and the mother of Zoe Barrett. She graduates summa cum laude with a 3.909 cumulative grade point average.

Several honor graduates were recognized during the ceremonies. They are designated as summa cum laude (3.900-4.000), magna cum laude (3.750-3.899) and cum laude (3.500-3.749).

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