Press Onward

Good evening!! I want to thank the superintendent, members of the school board, principal, teachers, parents, family, friends, and especially you, THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2003, for giving me this opportunity to come visit with you today. Let me be the first to congratulate you tonight on such an important accomplishment. It is truly an honor and privilege, and, very humbling, to be asked to give the commencement speech for my high school alma mater.

When your senior class sponsor, Tony Quitta, emailed me about a month or so ago to extend this invitation to me, my first reaction was “Why are you asking me?” I mean, COME ON, I’m not near old enough to do something like this…I was JUST HERE, wasn’t I??? Sitting out there…in the back row (because of my height, not my IQ I think). AND, you see…that email worried me when I saw T QUITTA on it…Tony was a senior when I was a freshman here….I’ve been trying to forget that time for years now…I vividly remember him and my brother, Winchel, always using us freshman for tackling dummies……

Seriously though, I started to think…wait a minute, I walked across this very football field and stage in 1985…18 YEARS AGO…that is probably about how old 90% of you out there are today...in fact, I found myself remembering what my parents gave to me for my high school graduation gift…A TYPEWRITER...imagine that, it lasted all of one year at college before the internet-craze took hold and made them obsolete…I wonder what things will be obsolete for you in 18 years…Well…I know you’re sitting and waiting patiently for that diploma…like I did 18 years ago….wishing that the commencement speaker would “hurry it up already” and thinking about that trip to Port Aransas or wherever you’re planning to go with your friends this weekend.

Well…I hope I can keep your attention for a bit anyway…I will try to be brief so that you can get on with more important things…

What a fantastic day this is for you!!! You have achieved a milestone in your life that NO ONE can ever take away from you. 13 years of work---HARD WORK---, 13 years of memories and friends that are yours, for free…forever. Be sure to store those memories away like precious treasure…you will need them from time to time as you look back on your time in this place. That treasure is JUST as important as that piece of paper you’re getting soon.

BUT…isn’t it strange that the diploma you’re about to receive tonight only has your name on it? I would ask you to reflect this evening about who else’s name belongs on it…at least on the back…in fine print maybe!!!

Mark Twain once wrote, “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

I know when I was 18, fresh out of high school, I knew everything I needed to know about life…and yet, my parents were always there for me…. through 7 years of college (that’s 2 degrees not 1…didn’t want to worry the parents that I was telling their kids it was OK to be on the “7 year plan”)…and they were there for me through marriage, children, career choices, etc, etc…and now that I’m (let’s just say mid 30’s—OK)….I THANK GOD every chance I get for them and what they did for me…I guess the old man has learned even more in 18 years since I graduated…..so, be sure as you walk across this stage tonight that you are not alone…..your parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family, teachers, preachers and many others are with you as you reach for that diploma.

As I was preparing for tonight, I read several commencement speeches from a variety of people…and one common theme that I found in them was how each one talked about their career or life’s work and how they got there…WELL, I’m sure you don’t want to hear about my meanderings in the field of microbiology and chasing some virus over the last 18 years…(my wife just loves when I start talking bacteria and viruses with my 6 year old daughter, Haley)…so I’ll spare you that topic and just share with you a few thoughts on what I think can lead to a chance at success, whether it be college, an immediate career, or even just hanging out at your parents house for awhile eating up all their food until you figure it out…..

First, be aware of all the people who have supported you in the past and who will support you in the future. I can’t tell you how many people belong up on this stage with me right now to share in this honor of speaking to you…If you’ve ever seen the movie “RUDY”, that’s how I feel sometimes…for instance, all of my teachers were a huge help to me, but in particular, Mrs. Serrill, Gene Sampson, Mrs. Rogers (daughter Megan graduating-chemistry), Mrs. Fleck (review of papers), the late Coach Bob Harris (teacher vs. coach & wife Anne/2 daughters) , Pastor Laverne Fitch (FAITH), and so many other friends and mentors…People like Mike Davis (EXXON), Billy DAVIS (TEXACO), LeNel Rice (Science Park), Linda Kellar (encouragement), David Fitzgerald for scholarship, Jimmy Klutts Scholarship, American Legion & Presbyterian Scholarships, Mackie Wayne Kasper (made me value going back to school), Dr. Andy Butler, Dr. Gary Aron, Dr. Gayne Fearneyhough, Dr. Jean Smith…and of course my parents, siblings, my in-laws (Rolling Stones-open door to their daughter!!), and most of all my wife, Bonnie, for all of her support and love these past 14 years…. and our children, Haley and Landry.……..Never underestimate how much others WANT you to succeed!!!

Secondly, I hope you realize that failure informs life at least as much as success. The lessons I learned from sacrifice are never forgotten. Love, honor, courage, accountability, compassion, and even humor…all of these come into sharp relief in the struggle to get past times of little money or little hope. Most adults know this and most graduates will learn it!! It is the rare person who finds triumph without adversity; it’s possible that graduates looking at their next unsure step might actually listen to the struggles of those who also stumbled along the way. (Austin American Statesman Editorial, 4/28/2003) Martin Luther King once said, “Not everyone can be famous, but everyone can be great….greatness is in your service.

Third, and as my father would say and still says, ”Rodney, hard work never killed a man, and it will make you appreciate your success that much more”. Too often we give our children answers to remember rather than problems to solve. Too often we take the easy way out by giving in…by taking the road that’s often traveled instead of less traveled…by celebrating mediocrity instead of excellence…but not at MY PARENTS house…Don’t ever be afraid to work and take pride in it.

The best advice I can give you is to OUTWORK everyone…My parents always jokingly tell others that they don’t know “where Rodney got his smarts from…it couldn’t have been from us”…Well I’m here to tell them tonight, My success is mostly because of them and the sense of hard work they instilled in me and my brother and sister each and everyday of our life….This year’s graduates will look back at their time mowing yards, hauling hay, delivering pizza, washing cars, and flipping burgers with the pride of experience. Few adults will go through life without serious obstacles to overcome, and it seems even more important that this year’s graduates understand that in a real, personal way!

In heeding my own advice to keep it short, I’d now like to bring my talk to an end with some reminiscing. My time spent at SHS not only afforded me positive memories, but it provided me with an infrastructure to succeed in my future educational endeavors. So don’t be intimidated by others from larger schools…you just take care of business in and out of the classroom and everything will work out! I entered SWT after my time here and didn’t miss a beat. I was truly prepared to handle the course loads that came with a major in Microbiology. From there, I was fortunate to realize my dreams through working at jobs I truly enjoyed and continuing my education. My wish is that you find this same outcome to be true for you. Remember that you spend 25% of your life at work…so take your time and find something that truly is your passion!

In closing, I would like to congratulate each of you on your very important achievement. You should be very proud of yourself and your accomplishments. Strive to keep reaching…beyond just that diploma. Life is all about surviving and pressing on…take hold of your diploma and future now. For those of you coming to SWT (or whatever our name will be in the Fall), I look forward to seeing you on campus. Good Luck and God Bless each of you.

Rodney E. Rohde