Graduation Speech : Residence Hall

President and CEO, Members of Boards of Trustees, Hospital administration Officers, DIO, Program Directors, Faculty, staff, family, friends, colleagues, and fellow graduating residents:

I have the distinct pleasure of welcoming all of you into the National Honor Society, a group built off of high standards of achievement, not only in the area of academics but also in character and leadership. I congratulate each of you and your parents.

College students represent a unique culture that have a multitude of needs that differ from other populations. College for many individuals is an opportunity to express their individualism and experience personal freedom. For many, this is the first time they are away from a structured home life and they are now able to make their own decisions. Now autonomous, they are free from punishment and reprimand from their parents because they are away from home and their actions are hidden by distance. This is an exciting time for the student as they are confronted with many new scenarios. Students are faced with finding new groups to be a part of and discovering ones’ identity becomes a new

Hi Ms.Barks, I am not sure if you remember me ( EAP 121,Winter 2015),just want to tell you I am done with ENG 101 and to thank you for the permit!!! It was very interesting expirience ( Bixby was my teacher),however I passed and moving on.This is my last quarter in Edcc , I am taking summer off and will be attending Shoreline community college this fall.Again,I just wanted to thank you for being supportive of me and allowing me to get closer to my goal!!!. I was very fortunate to have you as my teacher!!! Have a great summer!!!

Some people have asked to read the commencement address I delivered this morning to the 2013 graduates of Butler University. So here it is.

Living in a residence hall is a rite of passage for a college student. Not only can a student gain a hefty amount of culture by encountering different types of people, it provides an outlet for the student to grow into their selves. Away from the social pressures of home, a student develops a separate identity that is the budding seed to adulthood and individuality. Living in a dorm is often the first time a student is on their own. Deciding what to eat, when to take a shower, and something as simplistic as taking out the trash hones real life skills that is neglected in high school curriculum. Being a part of a residence hall improves social skills. Co-habituating with strangers in close corners puts people out of their comfort zones. From

Starting a new journey and embracing new her horizons can be difficult. Knowing that everything you know has now begun to change can cause you to have life altering experiences. When you are a child you have your parents to help with expenses, cleaning, problems you have at school, and even problems that may arise at home. When it is time for you to go off to school those things my change, you now that have your parents to be your mediator anymore, you than find yourself having to solve every conflict that may arise. First year freshman living in residence halls are faced with many challenges that can cause changes in lifespan development. They may face developmental issues, lifespan issues, crisis, trauma, and pathology environmental situations.

As a member of Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) Leaders Engaging in Advance Discoveries (LEAD), were are expected to complete eighty hours of service over the course of two academic school years. Each semester VCU LEAD students are required to complete twenty hours of service, ten-community engagement hours and ten leadership hours. I believe that having a requirement of participation hours pushes students to get involved on VCU’s campus and the greater Richmond area, introduces time management, as well as influences them to reflect on their new found experiences.

The Great Being saith and I quote: “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom”.

On February 11th, 2016 I attended the Houston Independent School District’s (HISD) school board meeting. I received a first-hand experience of how educational decisions are made and I also witnessed all the intricacies of the process. An article entitled Understanding Your School Board states that “school boards are entrusted by the public to translate the needs of students into policies, plans, and goals that will be supported by the community” (www.tasb.org). In other words, the board and its members are responsible for making and enforcing essential decisions for the school district. They are ultimately a strong determining factor for their students’ academic success.

I have loved every second of having you in my second grade class. You brought so much to our big family in room 110. I will have wonderful memories of you and this class for many years to come. I hope you have many fond memories in room 110.

It was a pleasure talking to you today and I'm really looking forward to your visit. Here is the link with directions to Teachers College. The main entrance is in Zankel Hall on 120th between Amsterdam and Broadway. Once you enter the building our offices are on the 2nd floor of the Grace Dodge building in room 271.

That’s good. I know about the P.T. because when I was in Postal school they made us do P.T. with the AIT students, talk about getting smoked with the young kids. That’s good to hear that you have the highest average in your class, when I reclassed to 42A I made the list for Honor Grad right before the Unit deployed back in 2014. I wish you the best of luck on making Distinguish Honor Grad. I’ll keep you post on anything that’s going

We had no major issues this evening. Tyler said, he had a position meeting at 7:30 and never came back down for Study Hall. Will supposed to take MUSC notes on chapters 14-18 and show them to me. When I came back from dinner, he was gone and never came back for study hall.

The first year of college comes with many changes and challenges. These changes can include the food in the cafeteria, study habits, time management skills, and much more. Every student has to find their own way to handle the first year and determine what works best for them. For many the most essential change is living away from home. Campus life provides opportunities to become a part of a unique, diversified community. With these opportunities come challenges, such as having a roommate, being away from one’s parents, and determining self-limits.