Page 4 - Racing To Excellence

Fall 2017 Convocation · Bowie State
University
Since I arrived on July 1, I have been finding
my way around new surroundings—meeting
new people and finding new places. I am
also learning some of the most important
lessons such as where to get a good crab
cake and how to properly pronounce
Maryland. I was corrected about the
pronunciation of Maryland - “Merleland"? I
will admit, I am still working on that; and so,
I ask forgiveness if this Philly girl doesn’t
quite have the pronunciation together just
yet.
I also suspect that as you sit here today that
some of you were able to traverse your
earlier educational experience with relative
ease to arrive at this point, while others
traveled along a bumpier and perhaps less
certain road. Whatever path you took, take
pride and savor the journey and your
accomplishments.
You have arrived.
Each first-year class is unique. This year we
have a record number of students—1,077
students (up 12.3% from last year). While
most of this class hails from the various
counties within the State of Maryland, 19
states and the District of Columbia are also
represented. This first-year class also
includes international students from Saudi
Arabia, Nigeria, India, and Cameroon.
And all of you, regardless of your place of
origin, or your circumstances, you are on a
promising pathway that not all who desire
higher education are able to realize.
The National Information Center for Higher
Education reports that in 2015 just 35.6% of
18-24 year olds were enrolled in college.
Fall 2017 Convocation · Bowie State University
So students you have achieved a great deal
already, and you are on a positive trajectory
towards a bright future with opportunity to
expand your knowledge of the world and
reach a level of learning that few are
afforded.
No other time in your life will afford this
same type of opportunity, to be among such
a community of learners. So take advantage
of all that you have here at BSU – the time to
explore various fields, attend a performance,
take an elective course just because you are
passionate about a topic, enroll in a study-
abroad opportunity and explore the world
outside of this region, or visit with a faculty
member to delve deeper into a subject.
Early on in your academic experience,
students, you will be asked to declare an
area of study, and while you will choose
your discipline—education, psychology,
biology, chemistry etc., I challenge you to
go a step beyond and ask yourself and
challenge yourself: “to what end will I use
my knowledge, unique talents and abilities?
What is the purpose for the education and
learning I will acquire here at BSU?" For all
that you will learn and take from BSU, to
what end will you use that knowledge?
Nelson Mandela once said that “What counts
in life is not the mere fact that we have
lived. It is what difference we have made to
the lives of others that will determine the
significance of the life we lead.”