“This Adventure Called Life”
2015 Briar Cliff Commencement Speech
- Corey Westra
President
Wharton, Board of Trustees, esteemed faculty and staff, parents and friends, 
So what do
you say on a day such as this? I
reflected back on a commencement speech I heard last year where the speaker
said, being a commencement speaker is a scary task, but in most cases no one
will remember a word you say. Of course…. UNLESS you are really bad then you
will be remembered for a long time.
So with that
challenge in mind, I hope the words and thoughts I share are ones that you can
tuck away somewhere from this exciting commencement day here at Briar Cliff
University.
I turned forty years old this year and I represent that Masters Graduates of Briar Cliff …. A responsibility I consider a great thrill. To my fellow master’s graduates it’s great to be with you today and celebrate this moment. Congratulations to you all!
However, I
want to focus my address to the undergraduates today. 18 years ago, in 1997, I was in your shoes
(or robe shall we say) when I received my undergraduate degree on a day very
similar to this.
I remember that day well, there was great expectations and excitement as we gathered early that morning for our final breakfast together with the President, Faculty, and Staff. Then there was that great joy of being with my classmates lining up and sharing those final stories about our college years before the big event got underway.
One memory of that day is quite vivid. It was the first commencement at that time for our new President of our institution. Some of the jokesters of my class thought it would be a humorous action to have the many graduates hand the President a marble upon receiving our diploma. I was asked to take part in this little humorous exercise and all I could remember thinking is what would my mother say if to cap off this four year, rather expensive, college education I was going hand a marble to the President. The last thing I wanted was to have my mother lose her marbles on her son’s commencement day.
However, what I remember most about the day wasn’t really what happened between 10 and 11:30am that morning during the ceremony (or the marbles). While it was a great thrill to receive a signed diploma and graduate, I remember more the feeling that came over me about 3pm that afternoon. College was over. What was next? Was this really Day one of the rest of my life as the Mathew West Christian Contemporary song says? To say the least there was this rush of feelings that came over me that it was really all over and I was moving on to a new chapter of my life.
Today I want to briefly talk to you about this Adventure Called Life. Dr. Kent Ingle wrote a book by this title that I recently read and the words really spoke to me and I feel can serve as a message you can take away from today’s commencement.
In the opening
to this book he speaks about one of the most empowering things we can know
about ourselves is that we have purpose, meaning, and significance. Engle goes on to say personal change and
transformation is not always easy, fun, or predictable. And isn’t that really true on a day like
today? Deep down we want to walk out of
here and change the world don’t we? Yet
beyond the fancy doors of this place is a scary and unpredictable world that at
3pm today you will be standing in and you may have those same feelings I did 18
years ago.
Your college years are important. Think about it …. Many of you came to this place
Now that I
am a bit older, and life has changed much since that day back in 1997, I can
truly say that my time spent at that time did prepare me for this Adventure
Called Life. As a father of three now,
with a wonderful wife, time and time again I am thankful
for the education and experiences I gained in my four years of receiving my
undergraduate degree. I wouldn’t trade
it for anything, and I trust you all feel the same way!
One of the great thrills I have as a father is to coach my kids and their friends. I began my youth coaching a few years ago coaching basketball with Upward Basketball right here in Sioux City. In that league we had three key items that we instilled as virtues for the kids. These three virtues have really been a guide for me in life (as a coach, father, and Commissioner). These three virtues I feel you can take from this place today as new college graduates.
The first virtue is Faith - 2nd Corinthians 5:7 says, “We live by believing not by seeing”
As you go
into this Adventure Called Life you will need Faith and much of what you go
through from this day forward will not always be easy to see. You have to
believe and have faith in God to carry you through each day. This belief system will give you that much
needed Faith that you need each day to move on from this place.
The second virtue is Respect - I Peter 2:17 says, “Show proper respect to everyone”.
In this
world and life adventure you will encounter all kinds of people, and as you
know when dealing with humans no one is perfect. I know your time spent in a college
environment has played this dynamic out time and time again….never
lose respect for your fellow man or woman. The words of I Peter are a powerful challenge
that we do show proper respect to everyone as we go through this Adventure
Called Life.
The final virtue is Courage - Joshua 1:9 says, “Be strong and brave. Do not be terrified. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord Your God. I will be with you everywhere you go”
If sometime
this afternoon that overwhelming feeling of “what’s next?” comes over you
reflect back on those words and know that you are not alone and God is with you
wherever you go. If you have those feelings,
stop, pray and reflect on the words of Joshua 1:9 and know that God is with you
where you go.
Earlier I referred to the song, “Day One of the Rest of Your Life” by Mathew West.
In that song
he states:
Well, every single day Your grace reminds me
That my best days are not behind me
Wherever my yesterday may find me
Well, I don't have to stay there
It's day one (of the rest of my life)
That my best days are not behind me
Wherever my yesterday may find me
Well, I don't have to stay there
It's day one (of the rest of my life)
In closing I want to share some parting
words and challenges of Dr. Ingle’s book This
Adventure Called Life:
Adventure Called Life:
Number one -- You
are special.
Not just because someone told you are (or may I suggest not because you
are getting a degree from this fine institution). Rather, you are special because you all were
created by God to solve a special problem in the world. Be special as you leave this place.
Number two -- You all have a purpose. Briar Cliff has prepared you well to go into this Adventure Called Life and execute that purpose. Believe in yourself and go out and be who you are and what you were called to be. When I coach kids I call this the “Let it fly…mentality”
Number three --- You need to keep moving. This is not the end, it’s just the beginning. Just as your life has transformed over the last years here at Briar Cliff you will be constantly evolving over time. Take it from a person who is back after 18 years on the commencement stage, change is always happening or as a colleague of mine once said, “Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine” – So embrace change and be prepared to enjoy your journey wherever it takes you.
Finally, you ALL matter. You are all unique and different, be proud of that. You matter – just as you are. Everyone is different you matter at what you can are setting out to do.
So as you leave this place graduates for the next Adventure in this life, remember your time at Briar Cliff and boldly move forward with God on your side and make a difference in the world today. Truly make today, “Day one of the rest of your life!” This is not an ending, rather an exciting beginning of endless possibilities….enjoy that adventure everyday as you go from this Commencement today. Many view Commencement as an ending, but it’s not an ending, rather it’s a beginning, a beginning of a new chapter in this Adventure called Life. Go from here and make this day one of the rest of your life.
Congratulations!
-Corey Westra
Learn more about Corey Westra HERE
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