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Ironic Twists & Turns of Fate
*** Looking back on my life thus far, I’m lucky: I’ve had it pretty good. You will hear very few complaints from me about the path my professional life has taken. As I spoke the other night to the graduating class at Baccalaureate, it was somewhat ironic that I was standing there giving a speech at all. While I’m a professor and have worked hard to be one, it wasn’t always the case. The fact of the matter is I didn’t really want to go to college. It’s true. My boyfriend at the time wasn’t planning on going to college, though he did end up taking some courses at the…
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My Speech to Graduates: Stevenson University
*** I had the great honor of being tonight’s faculty speaker at Stevenson University’s Baccalaureate ceremony, which is scheduled only a few days before graduation. I was selected by the senior class, and I can’t tell you how that made me feel warm and fuzzy. We gathered tonight in the Greenspring gym…it looked so beautiful in there. I was touched by the graduates sitting in the front row, and I tried my best to talk directly to them. Andy Gepert was the student speaker, and Ellen Roskes was the celebrant. To be completely honest, I’m on cloud nine. Despite having the jitters before I spoke (the waiting can get to…
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Guest Blogger-Amanda Gingery Hostalka: An Inspirational Speech to Graduates
The following speech has been generously made available to Steph’s Scribe by Stevenson University’s Professor of Art, Ms. Amanda Gingery Hostalka. Professor Hostalka gave this speech at Stevenson’s Baccalaureate Ceremonies on May 10, 2011, where she served as the celebrant for the occasion just three days prior to graduation. Her words were moving and inspirational, and at my request, she allowed me to publish her speech so that we can take it in one more time (for those of us who heard it) and share it with others who did not have the wonderful opportunity to do so. Therefore, I present our first guest blogger, Amanda Gingery Hostalka, and her…
