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Remarks of Governor Bob McDonnell
Virginia Commonwealth University May Commencement
Saturday May 21, 2011
Richmond
Thank you.
It is my great honor to join all of you: the 2011 graduating class of Virginia Commonwealth University!
And congratulations to all the parents, grandparents and family members here today: this is your accomplishment as well.
And I have to say, how fitting it is that we are gathered on a basketball court!
President Rao, please note it took me only three sentences into this speech to reference the incredible VCU basketball team!
It’s very humbling to travel around the country as the Governor of Virginia and one of the very first questions I get is….. “Have you met Coach Smart?” It makes me feel kind of cool to say “Yeah and he’s even been over to my house.”
And here’s the best thing about your remarkable basketball team and their historic run to the Final Four: It’s just ONE of the MANY great things happening at this dynamic University.
VCU is the second largest university in Virginia, and you, members of the class of 2011, are our future leaders.
There is a boundless future opening up in front of you. Walk outside this Coliseum today and take a good look around. Your world is full of opportunity.
Your many talents that have gotten you to this point are God’s gift to you. What you do with those talents moving forward will be your gift to God and others. After all, success in life is 10% aptitude and 90% attitude.
I do have a few ideas for success in life that I want to share with you. Don’t worry that I’m going to keep you here for hours. Mercifully, no speech has to be long. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address lasted just five minutes. I promise you that this talk will take only a few minutes more!
Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to attend a number of graduation speeches.
Last year I joined President Barack Obama for his commencement speech at Hampton University.
The graduates of Hampton will never forget who spoke at their commencement exercises.
I am realistic enough to know that may not be the case for you! Heck, I just live right down the street; you can see me anytime you want!
As Governor, I want to welcome all of you into the leadership of the Commonwealth of Virginia. You couldn’t have graduated at a more promising moment in the life of our state.
That is why it’s exciting to be here at VCU today. This school so closely aligns with what is taking place all across our thriving Commonwealth.
VCU is a diverse and growing university located in the capital city of a diverse and growing state; the 9th most prosperous state in America.
We have the 3rd lowest unemployment rate east of the Mississippi, far below the national average. We are home to 20 Fortune 500 Companies. The Port of Hampton Roads is the third largest in the country. We are rated the best state in America in which to do business.
Steven Spielberg will be here in Richmond next year filming a major new motion picture, “Lincoln”. We just passed major new legislation to build more roads, rail and transit, and to make our great public universities like VCU more affordable and accessible for our students. We have been called the “Silicon” Dominion because of the explosive growth in technology jobs.
No matter how you look at it, tremendous things are taking place in Virginia because of the talents and vision of our people.
And VCU is a perfect example of Virginia’s success. VCU is Virginia.
Before 1968 there was no Virginia Commonwealth University as we know it today. In that year Virginia Governor Mills Godwin signed this institution into being, bringing together Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia. If only Governor Godwin could see VCU today!
Today VCU has 32,000 students, 138,000 alumni, 60 undergraduate programs, 67 Masters programs, 40 Doctoral programs, world class schools of engineering, social work and medicine. The home of a Miss America. Author Tom Robbins. Doctor Patch Adams…..Joey Rodriquez!
In just 43 years this school has become a national powerhouse producing graduates who are changing the world for the better.
Today you join those graduates.
Now, there aren’t many times in life when you can actually stop and consider the deep questions of your life that are both philosophical and consequential. But today you can. Normally there are always blackberries beeping, music playing, friends calling, jobs demanding, and obligations intruding.
Looking back on the 35 years since I sat in your seats, I can tell you, it doesn’t get any less busy.
Your parents and grandparents know: It’s much better to pause now and consider “Where do I want to go?” than to stop and wonder years later, “What am I doing here?”
So that’s the question I want you to consider: What mark will your precious individual life leave in this world. The scriptures tell us you are a unique person hand-designed by God to accomplish a good purpose.
And you will achieve those purposes in a world full of choices. No generation in America has ever faced the myriad opportunities that you do. That’s a very good thing.
The freedom our Virginia and American founders promised in immortal writings 235 years ago is alive and well today. Cherish and embrace it, and know it has been preserved with the price of American blood.
No one will tell you where to live: That’s up to you.
No one will tell you what profession to enter. That’s your call.
No one will pre-determine what your income and contributions will be. That’s your decision.
What I want to encourage you to do is make the most of the opportunities that come your way. Take bold actions to make the world better, and then take full responsibility for them.
Prior generations would have rejoiced to have your freedom and your opportunities.
When I was running for Governor I’d run into folks in the final weeks of the campaign and I’d ask them if they were planning to vote on Election Day. A few would tell me, “Yes, but for your opponent.” Trust me politics keeps you humble!
I’d tell them, “I don’t care who you vote for, just that you vote”….which is much easier to say that when you are up in the polls….but the point of that story is, I’m not here to tell you how to live your life. I just want to tell you to make sure you live it well.
When you pursue your passion with a sense of service you make everything and everyone around you better.
The author Henry James wrote that we should, “Live all you can; it’s a mistake not to. It doesn’t so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you have your life. If you haven’t had that what have you had?”
That’s true. Have your life.
And remember that your life is happening at the same time, and in the same place, as a lot of others!
Jane Addams, the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, said this: “Civilization is a method of living, an attitude of equal respect for all men.”
As you life your life, respect your fellow man and woman. And live a life of purpose.
We are individuals within a larger community. Live your life as a part of the community.
Think outside of yourself and follow the great Golden Rule. Use your unique God-given talents to serve one another. Volunteer at your local food bank, Boys and Girls Clubs or homeless shelter.
Remember that life is precious. Plan ahead, but live each day to the fullest.
Care about government and politics.
I don’t care what party you are in, but the future of our nation depends upon you being involved and advocating for what you believe in. Edmund Burke reminded us, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” This is a great state and nation, led by good people, who work together daily to get things done. Our future success depends on your future involvement.
Be like State Farm, “Be a Good Neighbor.” And love your children, always.
And never forget if you work hard, dream big, are honest, and pursue opportunity you can truly achieve anything you want in the United States of America.
See, this is exactly where the moment of reflection provided by a commencement address comes in handy.
Much of what I just said sounds so painfully obvious. But how often do we think about these things? How often do we stop to think about the life we want to lead? Not nearly enough. Sometimes simple questions get us to the most difficult answers.
As you drive along your life’s own highways, take out your road map every now and then. No matter where you are going, you need to know where you are.
And now I have to don my hat as Virginia Governor one more time. I do have one request for you.
If you are going to create something, do it here in Virginia.
If you are going to open a business, open it in Virginia.
If you are going to be an artist, doctor, lawyer, musician, counselor, teacher, whatever it may be, pursue your profession in Virginia.
Benjamin Franklin was standing outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia right after the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was approached by a woman who asked him, “Well Doctor what have we got: a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
So today I say to you, 2011 graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University: You’ve been given the opportunity to live your lives with a purpose, if you can seize it.
I welcome you into the leadership of this Commonwealth and this country. You have the opportunity to do great things. Do them!
Congratulations parents, congratulations spouses, congratulations grandparents, and most importantly, congratulations graduates! Go Rams!