秘密研究所

Graduates Urged to Follow 'North Star'

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Posted on December 14, 2019

Marketing and Communications

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Dr. Alvin J. Williams asked graduates at the 秘密研究所 to find a 鈥減ersonal North Star鈥� to guide their lives.

鈥淵our time here at South has provided a solid foundation, some core values, some sense of ethical purpose and some rich relationships, and along the way some periods of recalibration and reflection,鈥� Williams, distinguished professor and chair of marketing and quantitative methods in the Mitchell College of Business, told graduates at Fall Commencement. 鈥淯se this springboard strategically and carefully as you chart your personal journey north.鈥�

On Saturday afternoon, Dr. Tony Waldrop, USA president, conferred 1,418 degrees at the USA Mitchell Center. South awarded 679 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 605 master鈥檚 degrees and 134 doctoral degrees.

Williams addressed several thousand students, families and friends. He recalled the career of Frederick Douglass, the 19th-century abolitionist, who published a newspaper called 鈥淭he North Star鈥� 鈥� a name bursting with meaning and symbolism.

鈥淗ow will you chart your path northward?  What factors will influence your journey?  How will you handle detours, derailments and disappointments?鈥� Williams asked. 鈥淲hile the answers are not simple, staying focused on your ultimate aim has to be your own personal compass. Use your tangible and intangible toolkits gained here at South as part of your resilience, your perseverance and your motivation.鈥�

He cautioned against 鈥渟uccess myopia鈥� that can lead to disappointment and unwanted stress. He told of a former student who earned great financial rewards 鈥渂ut he was one of the most dissatisfied people I鈥檝e ever encountered.鈥�

鈥淲hen are you successful?鈥� Williams asked graduates. 鈥淢any of you here today will make a lot of money. You will have fancy job titles. But, so what? Is this really success? Only you can determine the answer as you move along your personal journey northward. Don鈥檛 define success too narrowly. 鈥� Craft a broader, more expansive definition of success in life.鈥�

Williams suggested that South graduates shared a sense of purpose and urgency, along with independence and interdependence. They鈥檝e all experienced highs and lows and seen the results of hard work and determination. His advice included recognizing a higher power, being receptive to daily learning, and working to leave a broad and deep footprint.

鈥淪avor your personal journey northward, cultivate networks, stay connected to your foundation here at South, 鈥� define success broadly and do something good for others on your personal journey northward,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wish you much success and godspeed, and, as we always say, Go Jags!鈥�

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