McTeer urges A&M graduates to balance lives
By Holly Huffman
Bryan/College Station Eagle
December 18, 2004
Before launching into a pep talk on the Texas economy, Chancellor Bob McTeer encouraged the graduating Texas A&M University students to frequently envision the end of their careers, rather than the beginning.
“People rarely wish they’d spent more time at the office or attended more Rotary Club meetings,” McTeer told the graduates packed into Reed Arena for the first of three December graduation ceremonies.
“They do wish they’d eaten more hot dogs and ice cream at ball games, and spent more time with the old folks, and the young folks.”
More than 3,500 graduates were expected to receive degrees during Texas A&M’s three commencement ceremonies scheduled throughout Friday.
McTeer gave the commencement speech at the 9 a.m. ceremony, during which degrees were given to students in the colleges of medicine, education and human development, geosciences and liberal arts.
Former Undersecretary of Defense Edward C. “Pete” Aldridge spoke during the 2 p.m. ceremony, when students from the colleges of architecture, engineering, science and veterinary medicine and biomedical science graduated.
The 7 p.m. ceremony honored students from the George Bush School of Government & Public Service, the Mays Business School and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, who graduated from Texas A&M in 1972, gave the final commencement speech.
Soon-to-be former students filed into the arena Friday morning and were greeted by cheering parents snapping photos. As they took their seats, many anxiously raised their arms up to wave to friends and family.
A couple of graduates had “05” traced on their caps in shiny, silver glitter. One student, in an apparent protest against President Bush, had a large, white “W” on his cap, circled in red with a line going through it.
Gold fringe was attached along the sides of one mortarboard, while a yellow smiley face and red and white lights outlining the traditional “ATM” adorned two others.
“Thank you for getting us here safely, because we know this day wasn’t promised to us,” interdisciplinary studies graduate Robin Kellam prayed as she gave the invocation during the first ceremony. The students, she explained, all had been blessed to have four years at A&M and the accompanying academic challenges and friendships formed while attending “a school unlike any other.”
“We’re so proud to be called Aggies,” she said.
McTeer told the students during his speech that throughout their career experiences it often would be hard to tell whether the luck they were feeling was bad or good.
Country music crooner Waylon Jennings thought he’d lost the coin toss that kept the him off rock ’n’ roll icon Buddy Holly’s airplane the night it crashed in February 1959, McTeer explained.
And teen idols Richie Valens and the Big Bopper — who, along with Holly and pilot Roger Peterson, died in the crash — thought they’d won, he said.
“Don’t get too high on your successes or too low on your setbacks,” he said
Christi Findley, her thick, dark curls protruding out from under her cap, smiled as she walked through Reed Arena with her family shortly after accepting her master of science in educational psychology. The 24-year-old has been teaching special education this year at Oakwood Intermediate School in College Station.
“It means new opportunities,” Findley said, reflecting on the significance of her accomplishments.
Fellow Aggie J.C. Lynn Herry had similar feelings about the day, which seemed to have been a long time coming, she said.
Four years ago, Herry said, it seemed unlikely she would finish school at A&M after pulling in a 1.5 grade-point average. But Friday, the 23-year-old accepted her bachelor’s degree in health and touted her spot on the dean’s list.
“Today means freedom — being able to venture out in the world,” Herry said with a smile. “I never thought the day would come.”
Holly Huffman’s e-mail address is hhuffman@theeagle.com.
Reprinted with permission of The Bryan/College Station Eagle