Reflections on Commencement 2017 | Taking stock for the future

This past Saturday, May 20th, 2017, was Commencement day at Villanova! Graduation is always one of my favorite days on campus, as it is a day of celebration for our students of their achievement. In addition, it is an opportunity to meet many of our online students who I have taught in the program but never met face-to-face. Saturday I had the joy of meeting several students from my classes and congratulating them in-person for their accomplishment. This day above others is one for students to reflect on all their hard work and sacrifices along the way to their degree and ponder what the future holds.

The Commencement remarks during the Graduate Studies Convocation were given by Kevin Minbiole, PhD, Director, Department of Chemistry. Dr. Minbiole’s remarks encouraged students to identify the things in life which they are stubborn on – our core values, passions, beliefs – and hold true on those things; be steadfast in your values, passions, and beliefs, but be flexible in all other areas of your life. Dr. Minbiole explained, “in everything else, let life be a lesson in flexibility. Raise your sails with the things you are stubborn and be flexible to where life takes you with those sails.” We must keep ourselves open to new experiences and new paths that we may not have planned for or expected. Dr. Minibole’s point, that we should be grounded in our core values and passions but open to experience, is an important lesson for anyone, but especially as students head out on a new career with a new degree.

I am excited to see where the winds of life take our graduates, as they fly the sails of their passions in human resources and value for people in organizations!

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Bethany J. Adams, MA is an Assistant Director in the Graduate HRD program at Villanova University. Learn more about her here!