Spring 2019 convocation address

June 18, 2019

Congratulations graduands and my warmest welcome to everyone here who is celebrating with you today.

Convocation day is a mix of emotions: happiness, relief, excitement, and, perhaps a little trepidation for what comes next.

Today, you leave Laurier with a university education – perhaps your first, or perhaps your second or third degree.

This is a big deal! Graduating university is a remarkably rare achievement in our world.

All of you are exceptionally well-educated, hard-working individuals.

Congratulations again on the hours of effort it took to get here – in the classroom and lab, in your co-op or other experiential learning placements, in your full-or part-time jobs in support of your financial security, taking care of family members, or being on the playing field if you were a student athlete.

Whatever your pathway was to success, and the many challenges along the road, my compliments on your significant achievement of being here today.

This convocation season is also tinged with sadness as we undertake our celebrations following the sudden loss in April of our dear friend and colleague, Leanne Holland Brown.

In honour of Leanne, we have saved space for her in the platform party today.

Leanne was the dean of students on the Waterloo Campus and those graduating today might have fond memories of her welcoming you to Laurier during O-week, or sharing words of wisdom at Toast to the Class.

Many of you will have had close ties with Leanne. Her job at Laurier was to foster conditions that best supported student academic achievement, personal growth and well-being.

Perhaps she put you in touch with resources when you were struggling with the transition to university life; she may have helped you navigate an academic appeal.

Maybe she just shared a kind word of support when you needed that extra boost of confidence to try something outside your comfort zone.

What I know with certainty is that Leanne touched everyone who came in contact with her.

She was an empathetic and compassionate person who embodied the Laurier spirit and sense of community.

She was a natural leader, commanding respect through her actions and setting an example for all of us in how to engage with others.

She will be deeply missed by all of us.

As you embark on this next chapter of your lives, I encourage you to consider how you can become such a mentor and leader to others.

Some of you will be starting your first professional jobs. Others will be exploring the world. Some of you will be heading off to graduate school, or to earn other credentials.

Whatever you do when you leave Laurier, ask yourself how you can incorporate empathy, compassion and kindness into your relationships with others.

As the Chancellor noted, one only has to look at the current state of political discourse, or the humanitarian and environmental challenges we face, to realize that in today’s world, empathy, kindness and compassion will go a long way not only in our personal relationships, but in defining our actions that will support the greater good.

As we all know, life can be filled with moments of great joy, such as days like today. It can also be filled with very difficult moments.

Cultivating empathy and compassion, not only for others, but also for ourselves, allows us to more fully appreciate the good times, but also weather those challenging life experiences that can seem insurmountable.

Through compassion, we seek understanding, rather than criticism and judgement.

With understanding, we see that although we may face adversity in this moment, it is within our power to maintain hope, take comfort in our relationships, and together, take action to overcome challenges.

What I’ve just described are the elements necessary for resiliency – a key trait for handling the inevitable setbacks you will encounter in life.

When I consider my own educational pathway, one period during my doctoral studies comes to mind.

When I was about three quarters of the way done my PhD I hit a wall.

The courage and passion that had propelled me to that point seemed to have deserted me.

In hindsight, there were lots of reasons for this: job prospects in academia and research were low at the time; and my interests were expanding from straight research into volunteer areas completely outside of research and science.

It could also be that I had been in school with no break since kindergarten – I’m sure some of you can relate!

In essence, I had a crisis of confidence in my chosen path.

My graduate supervisor did the best thing he could for me. He showed me compassion and, importantly, patience, and let me set the pace I needed to complete my studies.

His assurance I would finish never wavered. His confidence allowed me to reach deep inside and find the resilience I needed.

Not only that, he helped me to find my path forward beyond my PhD. I am forever grateful. I hope that you have had similar supportive experiences at Laurier and will remember to pay it forward when someone needs help.

The friends and mentors you have met at Laurier provide an excellent network of support that will make you more resilient.

I encourage you to cherish these relationships. Properly nurtured, they will remain some of the most significant relationships throughout your life.

As president of Laurier, I hear stories every day of professors who go out of their way to support student success; and of students who volunteer and donate to help organizations both locally and globally.

We have remarkable staff members who have worked tirelessly to ensure our students cross this stage today.

If you look around, you will notice the many Laurier community members who have volunteered their time today to celebrate and recognize our graduands.

I am so proud of this thriving community.

As you move forward into your next adventure, remember your Laurier experiences and take this spirit of community with you.

Set an example and then inspire others, wherever you go.

The world is counting on you to be compassionate and kind.

I am confident that all of you will achieve much success in the coming years.

Congratulations once again on this significant achievement!