This message was shared during the 2024 Woods Online and Graduate Commencement ceremony.
Families, friends, faculty and most importantly, the Class of 2024, thank you for the opportunity to stand in front of you and deliver today’s commencement speech. I look out and I’m so grateful to be surrounded by all of the friends and family who have supported me in my time at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
I began my time at The Woods what seems like a century ago, 1800 calendar days, give or take a few. — And yes, I did look that up. — That’s how long it took to complete one bachelor’s degree and three master’s degrees. Two master thesis papers, countless late nights, endless word count checks and more caffeine than one person should consume in a lifetime.
The words I want you to remember and carry through life after you leave this building are ‘begin and began’ – depending on if you are starting or recalling a day in your journey.
Back to the journey that is mine, I began scared. I began unsure, with a goal of changing my life and knowing that it would take hard work, determination and grit. Much like Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, I began my journey with a prayer, friends and a dream. Along the way, I discovered that I had the power – not the power that provides light to buildings or moves heavy weights. My power was and is different. I have the power to change lives by empowering others to stand up for those who cannot stand or speak for themselves, and leading and teaching others how to carry themselves and treat others with respect.
I am always happy to share my stories to help others. I have helped moms continue to stand up for their child’s educational needs to be met after sharing the long, uphill battle of standing up for my own. I have encouraged others to set healthy boundaries to elevate their mindset and grow in their education after sharing about the impact that continuing my education has made.
Over my time at The Woods, I learned that I was brave, could overcome obstacles that could have destroyed my progress and the value of hard work. And I nearly mastered APA format.
I tell people that my story will be a survival guide for a person who decides that they want a better life for themselves and their family when they have no idea where to begin. I would be lying if I stood up here and downplayed the struggles of this journey that led me to this moment, standing here in front of you today. It was not easy, but it was worth it. No matter how many papers or group projects I completed, every time a syllabus was released as a new class began — and I saw minimum page requirements or group projects — my heart would beat very fast.
I worked two jobs for much of my college life in addition to being a full-time student. I wore my mom hat, taking care of four children. I became a wife and stepmom and blended a family that motivated me to reach every goal. We will make it to the top together.
People would often ask me, how do you do it? I could never answer how because I honestly had no idea. I could only answer ‘why’. To the parent who knows they have all odds stacked against them, I encourage you to accomplish your goals. I want the person who switches careers to be brave enough to fulfill their dreams. I want everyone to understand that each day brings an opportunity to begin again, building off what was learned yesterday.
I learned that life will knock you down many times. But the important part is when you stand back up – stronger than before. Michael Jordan summed up the way to success. He missed more than 9000 shots, lost 300 games, was trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed 26 times. He failed many times, but he kept showing up. People still look up and reflect on his statistics today. Do they want to beat or compare records, or do they see someone who changed the game, who set the example of failing but standing back up and overcoming the challenges of life while using them as an example for others?
Graduates, each of you have the opportunity to change the world and leave it in a better place. Our professors, especially Dr. LaComba, challenged us to think outside the box and helped shape us to be who we are today. I look back and can say with certainty that she knew it would take longer than three minutes for that global presentation, but she wanted us to be brave enough to ask for what we needed. These skills that they have given us will help us to change the world.
The world to you is different than the world of the person sitting next to you. We have made it to the top of our first mountain. I encourage each of you to pause, look around and admire the beauty that comes from achieving this milestone. Each of you are deeply rooted in the history of a dream, prayer and work ethic that Saint Mother Theodore Guerin built the foundation of The Woods upon.
Failures will come along the way, and that is okay. Failing will teach you more about yourself than the top of the mountain ever will. It will also make you appreciate that view at the top even more. You must get up, dust off and never lose sight of dreams or your ability to learn something. Today, you will walk out of here as graduates of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, you will also walk out of here as leaders who will change the world. I say ‘will’ instead of ‘can’ because I believe in each and every one of you! Your impact on just one person has a butterfly effect on the world to improve generations to come.
You may ask yourself or doubt yourself – how can I change this huge world as just one person? I want to share a poem by Edwin Grover. “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
I encourage you to always begin, no matter what failures you have faced, learn from them and apply what you have learned to change the life of someone else. Even if all you do is motivate them to keep beginning again or push on to the next beginning.
Congratulations, Class of 2024! Your hard work and thousands of words written in papers have led you to this beautiful destination. Go out and change the world with the foundation that is rooted in The Woods and blessed by those who have gone before us. It doesn’t matter where you are, how much life has changed from your original plan, or how many times you have failed – begin again- stronger than ever before. Just begin, even when you’re scared, unsure, and or have zero idea what you are doing or how you are going to do it.
Before I conclude, I’d like to thank my husband. I wish you could stand on this stage with me because you deserve as much credit for my success as I do. And to my kids, I hope that you all always remember that you are braver than you believe, stronger than you feel and smarter than you think.
I’m proud of all of you — Class of 2024 — and I know the people in this building and watching from afar are gleaming with pride for all our accomplishments. Thank you, SMWC, for helping all of us begin again and grow strong. It is this foundation that has been instilled in us that we will use to change the world.
Elizabeth Hein ’21, ’22G, ’23G, ’24G, is a recent graduate of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Hein is no stranger to The Woods as she also earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degrees in healthcare administration and leadership development. Hein prides herself in being a leader in all aspects of her life. As a devoted mom and full-time student, Hein serves as a human resources manager for Republic Services. In earning her three master’s degrees, Hein intends to promote a collaborative, engaged environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued. She is often a student who evaluates different goals and other priorities in which she is striving to aspire.
0 Comments