By Beth Herzog Michel ’94, ’09G, vice chair for the Board of Trustees
The day is finally here! In a few moments, you will feel the weight of your own Woods ring on your hand; this ring will forever connect you to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. I am honored to have the opportunity to be here with all of you, in a moment which will forever connect us – through the miles – together.
Have you ever really thought about the word “connection”? Its synonyms include “ally, kinship, affiliation, attachment, and bond.” Whether you’re experiencing a campus-based education, or engaged with the Woods via the multitude of online programs, I hope that these words bring to mind the connections you’ve formed during your studies. Over the next few minutes, I’d like to lend a bit of perspective to the lasting implications of these connections.
One of the many reasons we are here today – together – is because two alums from the Classes of 1922 and 1923 designed the Woods ring. That’s 103 years of connection across generations – 103! I have proudly worn my ring for 32 of those years, since 1993.
It has sparked hugs with strangers in restaurants and stores (however, they aren’t really strangers, right? – because they too wear the ring).
It has calmed me when I fly (as a nervous flyer, I pray for protection as we race down the runway and soar into the sky, all the while clasping the ring on my right hand with my left hand). Think of that as a ‘grounding connection.’
It reminds me to connect with my self-confidence (which sometimes hides, I’ll be honest). Earlier this week, I attended a motivational session given by a successful journalist from the Fort Wayne area. During that presentation, she asked us to repeat several affirmations, such as “I own my happiness” and “I own my reactions.” I would add one, that being “I own my confidence.” I hope that each of you as a ring recipient today feels confident in the academic success which brought you here. Allow this ring to remind you of your connection to The Woods, and the connection to the confidence you feel today. Carry that forward with you on your journey; it will serve you well, I promise.
This ring quietly – but powerfully – connects me to memories, extending even longer than these past 32 years.
It connects me to my dad. As a teacher, he ‘found’ The Woods for me – and recognized the “specialness” of this place – when he attended a conference on campus; less than two months later, I was here. And to my mom who, while spending weekends with me on campus, happily said that she was finally experiencing the ‘college life’ that she had missed. I’m so grateful to both of them for being a part of what turned into my continuing connection to this college.
This ring connects me to my undergrad advisor; my career success today is due in no small part because she cared for us as her students and taught us the principles we needed to succeed. I listened, and hope she’s proud of me. She became my mentor, and was my friend until her passing.
It connects me to classmates turned lifetime friends. We’ve laughed and cried together, and encouraged each other through career and life changes. And – we’ve traveled together! Try that sometime – it’s amazing how much fun it can be to travel with a fellow Woodsie after graduation!
Although that was far from an exhaustive list, I’ll mention just one more…a few years ago, this ring expanded my definition of ‘family’ by connecting me to a rich and deep friendship with an alum from a younger generation. I had the honor of presenting her ring to her during Ring Day, and I now have immense joy arising out of being a part of her children’s’ lives. (This friendship/family – now that’s a ‘Providence’ story spanning generations and ‘not so random’ connections – but for another day).
The Woods – and this ring – has been a bond through all of those experiences. Allow me one more venture down a ‘connection trail’?
“Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College challenges students to think critically, become leaders and effect change through knowledge and virtue rooted in our Catholic tradition.”
Do you recognize that as the mission statement of The Woods?
Let’s spend a minute on the last part of that statement…”rooted in our Catholic tradition.” That phrase brings to mind trees, right? The Woods? Believe me, the verbiage selected for the mission statement was definitely intentional.
As I was thinking about this, I did a quick online search for “tree root metaphors.” One analogy stood out to me – “roots as identity” – meaning the roots of a tree are symbols of what makes you uniquely you – your foundation. Our individual foundations are many, but one connection – one root – ties all of us together in this auditorium. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Our Woods. This ring.
Going back to my earlier reflection on self-confidence…as you leave here today with the ring on your hand, remember to be confident that you are learning to think critically. You have it within you to be a leader – however that concept fits within your life. And you have it within you to confidently approach and effect the changes ahead of you. I firmly believe all of this.
This ring, with its “lovely, dark and deep” onyx stone, honors your commitment to your academic success. It is an outward sign of your forever connection to this place.
Wherever your journey takes you, let your ring connect you to the rich history of the Woods, to Saint Mother Theodore Guerin as our foundress, to the 103 years’ worth of Woods ring wearers, and now, to each other.
May our Provident God guide and protect you, and open your eyes to the connections which are yet to come.
Congratulations.
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