A copy of my Baccalaureate Speech: May 17, 2013
This past fall I found myself tempted to re-enter Gordon and
begin my
adventurous life all over again, but not because of any regrets about how
college turned out. And certainly
not because I feel I can relate to the underclassmen. (While I can still remember what it was like to be in their
shoes, freshman year seems like a lifetime ago.)
I
am tempted to enroll in Gordon again because each time I toured prospective
families around campus, selling them on all the opportunities awaiting them upon
a four-year commitment, I reaffirmed my decision four years ago. I told families that though it might not
be everyone’s experience, I really did find my best friends among those I lived
with my freshman year. And I told
families how I see Gordon through different eyes as a senior – that as I’ve
grown as a student, I’ve also seen Gordon itself transform to become a better
institution, making changes as small as adding a Panini maker, and as big as
installing a new Provost and President.
Our
class has had a unique position to witness several significant changes. For better or worse, we saw the demise
of Claymore and the rise of Chester’s Place (the tavern that, no, does not
serve any alcohol). We saw midnight
Marty’s donut runs start off as a mysterious word through the grapevine and
make their way to become a regular freshman tradition. We saw the tiers disappear to make way
for a more open and internationally themed cafeteria. We were the first to experience the ups
and downs of the “New Core.” We spent
a year saying goodbye to the Carlbergs, our pillars of strength and wisdom -- a
family who dedicated so much of their lives to the college, and a first lady
who told interesting stories in funny accents while always preaching the
gospel. The following fall we said
hello to a new first family who immediately made themselves present in our
lives through strolls around campus and a president who travels the world to
promote our school and still finds time to work out with us in the gym. Yet throughout these changes, the
essence of Gordon has remained the same:
We are a place where students work hard and train to be witnesses to the
Kingdom in whatever work field we enter. My professors taught me not only how to be an exemplary
Elementary school teacher, but also to love my students and respect my
colleagues; to plan with integrity, act with patience and call on Christ daily
to give me the strength to do so. And
this spring in a third grade classroom in Revere, I learned just how difficult
that task is!
Gordon
College is also a place where conversation and community happen. We are a community aware of the
challenges that face us. And even if it takes a few brave students to open up
the conversation, whether in the public space of our Chapel or among private
conversations in Residence Halls, there are always people willing to confront
hard issues head on.
Our
campus has 450 beautiful acres of woods, but the Gordon experience extends far
beyond our property line. As the
body of Christ, we’ve boarded planes to Nicaragua to work in orphanages, to
Detroit to encounter inner city brokenness, to South America to cross a
language barrier, and to Italy to investigate the history of art. Each day we load up vans to serve in Lynn
or welcome under-resourced students to our campus. We get in our cars and drive to practicums and internships to
put into practice four years of hard work. We make ourselves aware of our position as caretakers of
God’s earth. Though we admittedly
don’t utilize them until late April when its time to turn in our resumes, we are
thankful for all the opportunities Career Services promotes in preparation for
life after college.
I
was overwhelmed by Freshman Orientation, but it has taken me four years to
realize that as thoroughly prepared as we were to come, we’re even more
prepared to leave. As Freshmen we
overcommitted and stayed up too late, as Sophomores we made the most friends
we’ll ever enjoy at one time, as Juniors we traveled the world, and as Seniors
we’ve had one foot in the college world and one foot stepping out, with the
encouraging support of our apartment mates, mentors and professors. I always knew this day would come, and I
always imagined it would be hard to say goodbye, but I never expected it to
feel so right. The biggest comfort
I take in facing the unknown road ahead is the knowledge that God has always led
me exactly where I needed to be. Leading
me to Gordon for these past four years is by far the strongest example of His
faithful provision and the reason I have confidence facing the future.
