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Centre College Commencement Address
Danville,
Kentucky
May 25, 2003
Thank you, President [John] Roush.
Well—graduates, parents, family members and friends, faculty and
administrators—I am delighted to join you today for the 180th
commencement of Centre College.
My husband, Senator Mitch McConnell, and I seldom get the chance to do
events together. So thank you for inviting us both
to be your keynote speakers.
I want to commend President Roush and the faculty. You are a big part of
why this college continues to produce some of the finest leaders for Kentucky
and our nation.
After all, Centre College has given us two Vice Presidents, a chief
justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, many members of Congress, Kentucky Governors
and—a few cabinet members. I was delighted to discover that Fred
Vinson—who, prior to myself, was the last Kentucky resident in 50 years to
serve in the Cabinet—graduated from Centre College. Given the illustrious
history of this college, I’m certain that some of you graduating today
will join this distinguished group.
Another reminder of Centre College’s high standards sits right
inside my office in Washington, D.C. Sarah Gardiner Harding, a 2000 Centre
College graduate, is one of the first people I hired when I became Secretary of
Labor. And Melissa Thompson, who is a Junior Marshall today, will be joining us
this summer as an intern at the Department of Labor. I know where
to look for good people!
Today, graduates, as you stand on the threshold of a new life, I hope
you will let me share with you a few thoughts about the opportunities awaiting
you in America’s 21st century workforce. As President George W.
Bush’s Secretary of Labor, I have the unique opportunity to observe the
major trends in our economy and how the workforce is changing.
You are fortunate to be entering a world that offers you an
unprecedented variety of opportunities to realize your dreams.
Only a few decades ago, employees and workers spent their entire lives
with one or two organizations. They were either management or labor. They have
inflexible work hours and when they turned 60, they retired and took the
company pensions, if there was one.
Today, all that has changed. The lines between labor and management have
blurred. More and more people work away from the office, in flexible working
arrangements, connected by nothing more than a laptop, a cell phone and a Palm
Pilot or Blackberry. And the average person will change jobs nine times over
the course of his or her career. That’s why so many workers find the
portability of their pension plans so appealing.
I know that some of the headlines about the economy may sound
discouraging. But the fact is, that even in today’s challenging economic
environment, there are many growth sectors where jobs are going unfilled
because of the lack of qualified workers. In fact, many employers report that
their biggest challenge is finding workers with a firm grounding in math,
science and English. That’s good news for you, because Centre College has
given you such a strong foundation in these basics.
So, I want you to disregard a lot of the things you are hearing about
the economy and remember these numbers instead. While approximately 49 million
workers left their jobs in 2002, approximately 50.5 million workers found
new jobs. That’s an example of the incredible
dynamism of the American economy. Our economy is constantly
churning and producing new ideas, new jobs and new opportunities.
Providing opportunity has a special resonance with me personally
because—as you have heard—I came to America as an immigrant from Asia
when I was only eight years old. My parents wanted to give their children the
freedom and opportunity America offers, and we are grateful for the blessings
of this great nation every day.
In the country where my parents grew up, there were only a few paths to
success. But in America, there are many ways to achieve your
dreams. Each person is free to create his or her own path—to take what he
or she has learned and apply it to personal goals and unique talents. Just look
at Centre College and your own success stories—your graduates include
Governors, cabinet members but also Peace Corps volunteers, poets and
playwrights.
So today I’d like to share a few helpful tips as you begin to build
your own unique career paths.
First, education is important. Just by graduating today you are already
getting off to a great start. 80% of all new jobs require some
kind of postsecondary education or training. And historically, college
graduates earn twice as much over their lifetimes as workers who
stopped with a high school diploma.
Second, learning new things doesn’t stop when you leave here. As
mentioned, our economy is changing rapidly. Old industries are evolving and new
ones are emerging every day. In this environment, it is crucial to continually
update your skills and knowledge base. That means developing a commitment to
lifelong learning.
Third, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. America is a forgiving
country and the land of second chances. Here, few mistakes are fatal. If you do
make a mistake… pick yourself up and try again. Tomorrow is a new day. Our
country values and rewards persistence.
And finally, cherish your heritage. Throughout my career, I have kept on
the desk in my office a picture of my father’s village in China, which was
ravaged by civil war. It shows thatched mud huts and chickens and pigs grazing
in the dirt. I often look at that photograph when I encounter difficulties and
think to myself: if my parents can survive the hardships of civil war, foreign
attacks, invasions, social unrest and instability, come to America and thrive,
then surely I can surmount my challenges as well.
Now, each of you will have your own family history. I know that every
parent sitting in this audience has sacrificed for you in some way. And
every American family has a unique story or an inspiring ancestor
who helped to make your journey here today possible.
So don’t forget—as you embark on your exciting new adventure
in life—to remember where you came from, to help others and to give
something back to your community.
Some people claim that the world views America as the strongest nation
because it has the mightiest army. But I view America as great
because of the unprecedented compassion and generosity of its people. It is the
character of the American people that makes our nation such a
force for good in the world.
I hope you’ll believe this—and believe in yourselves.
You’ve got great futures ahead of you if you work hard, dare to
dream and never give up.
Thank you for inviting me to share this special day with you!
And now, you’re in for a special treat with our next speaker
because he’s my husband and soul mate, your Senior Senator and the
Majority Whip of the United States Senate, Mitch McConnell.
God bless you. And God bless America.
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