SPARTAN - The Graduation Speech That Never Was

Here is my ode to my alma mater, Michigan State University. I threw my hat in the ring to be the student graduation speaker and failed. However, I think there are some useful ideas here way back from 2001 and I thought that I would share. I hope something has meaning for you.

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A SPARTAN has:

Spirit

Patience

Acceptance

Respect

Toughness

Adaptation

Nerve

          Welcome parents, students, alumni, faculty, and guests. Today, it is my pleasure to introduce you all to what being a SPARTAN is all about. In my years at Michigan State University, I have found that spirit, patience, acceptance, respect, toughness, adaptation, and nerve were all key characteristics of Spartans that I admire. I will now take you on a journey of what these words mean to me.

Spirit comes from true believe in self and the things that you are doing. In order to be a great Spartan, you have to believe in Michigan State University, and all that it stands for, and back that up with all of your energy everyday. One must be consistently passionate about the green and white in all travels. In short, having spirit means outward loving your place at Michigan State University.

Patience was necessary to learn to be a Spartan. Even though my instincts were to try and make my mark on Michigan State University, I came to understand that it was more important to understand Michigan State first. That meant investing time to getting to know my fellow students as well as faculty and staff. With this added knowledge, it was easier to embrace the friendly smiles and warm welcomes of the Spartan family. The lesson is this, one must understand before one can represent and exercise patience in doing so.

Acceptance is also a key trait of any true Spartan. Michigan State prides itself on welcoming students of all backgrounds to taste the learning pie. Everyone must be accepting of new cultures, new thought processes, and new ideas in order to create a comfortable living and learning environment. One must also be accepting on themselves and the ideals and beliefs that are important to self in order to be successful. Accepting your environment allows you to understand and eventually improve your surroundings.

Respect is all about treating people how you would want to be treated. It requires that one be open-minded, listening to all sides of an issue, and allowing room for the natural disagreements that occur in life. It manifests itself when one admirers achievers without jealousy or hatred. Most importantly, giving each individual the opportunity to prove themselves good or bad by works, not by reputation or by stereotype, shows respect. Respect is necessary to hold on to everything that is positive in our existence as Spartans.

Toughness is necessary to be able to cope with all aspects or student life. Mental toughness is required to resist temptation and to maintain the academic focus necessary to graduate. Spiritual toughness is necessary to not forget who you are and what you believe in as you grow into a different and hopefully better person. Emotional toughness is necessary to deal with the daily challenges that life throws at you. Being tough is a critical element of being a Spartan, a warrior in life.

Adapting to one’s circumstances is critical to success. Even the best-laid plans usually don’t fully work out. One thing I have learned here at Michigan State is to expect the unexpected. In having this attitude, one can more easily adapt his or her strengths to a situation and come out successful. The world changes every day, and adaptation is key to coping with situations constantly in flux. Those Spartans who adapt are those Spartans who survive.

Nerves of steel are necessary for survival as a Spartan.  It is my belief that nothing worthwhile comes without risk. It takes nerve in order to overcome one’s fears and anxieties in the name of doing what is right, just, and good. There are many opportunities in life where not taking the chance won’t hurt anyone, but there are always opportunities to step up and make a difference. A true Spartan has the nerve to step up to the challenge.

Hopefully I have helped someone out there understand what it means to be a Spartan, to be a part of the Michigan State family. It is an honor that I will treasure the rest of my life. Thanks to all for listening, and congratulations to all graduates.