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| Bowyer urges graduates to pursue purpose higher than self |
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Posted: Thursday, August 14, 2008 3:35 pm
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UTM Graduate Peyton Dwayne Evans and daughter Alexis
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Dr. Karen Bowyer congratulated University of Tennessee at Martin graduates, Saturday, complimenting them on a job well done. “You are joining a select group. Only 25 percent of the adult population in the United States has reached the milestone of a baccalaureate degree.”
Bowyer, Dyersburg State Community College president, wasted little time in challenging graduates to pursue self-transcendence or living for a purpose higher than self.
She quoted George Bernard Shaw who expressed his idea of self-transcendence in the following way: “This is the true joy in life . . . being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one . . . being a force of nature instead of . . . complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy . . . I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.”
Adding her own take of life’s purpose, she said, “We need something to be passionate about, something beyond our own selfish gain. I would like to invite you to join me for one of my passions. I care deeply about helping people realize their potential through education.”
Noting the country is falling behind the rest of the industrialized world in educational achievement, she said, “You might ask, what difference will that make for me? If our community is made up of a sizeable percentage of under-educated people we will not realize a very high level of economic activity, the arts will not flourish, crime will be a problem, and many resources will be needed for social services. I don’t know about you, but that kind of community does not sound very attractive to me.”
Bowyer cited that in Northwest Tennessee only 69 percent of the adults have high school diplomas and 10 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher and added there is a sizeable gap between the region and the entire state.
Since October 2001, this region has lost more than 4,000 manufacturing jobs, she said. “Given the under-education, it is difficult to bounce back and find other employment with similar salaries,” she said. “We are in a global economy that is driven by knowledge and technology. Many of our fellow citizens are not prepared to compete.”
She added, “Eighty percent of new jobs will require postsecondary education, and 52 percent of today’s jobs require at least some college education or postsecondary training. There is a shortage of highly skilled, college-educated workers. To compete and have an economically healthy community, we must grow our own professionals, which means we have to improve on the education statistics I mentioned earlier. We can only do this if enough of us develop a passion or a fire in our belly about the importance of improving education at all levels.
“The world is a better place today because we are unleashing the energy and talent of the 200 graduates sitting before me. The education, skills and friends that you have gained while you were here at UT Martin will guide you as you work to make a real difference in the world and contribute in a meaningful way.”
UT Martin’s summer graduates represent 38 Tennessee counties and 11 states, including Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Utah. Also, there were graduates from Jamaica, Japan, South Africa, Taiwan and Turkey.
University of Tennessee President John Petersen congratulated the graduates and UT Martin Chancellor Tom Rakes conferred degrees and presided over the commencement ceremony.
“Good luck to each of you,” said Rakes.
“Be assured the faculty and staff on this campus wish you the very best.”
WCP 8.12.08 |
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