Virginia Cerussi - Academically Excellent

ACADEMICALLY EXCELLENT - November 15, 2012 When Mr. Lyness first approached me about giving this talk, I thought to myself what I could I possibly say that is new and interesting about the Grad-at-Grad component of becoming more “academically excellent”?

Everyone already knows what that means so how could I possibly add to the understanding of it? But after reflecting on it a bit, I did come up with some thoughts that I would like to share with you this morning.

I begin by relating a true story that involves Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States. A graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, he was applying for a job in the nuclear submarine program and was being interviewed by high-ranking Navy Admiral Hyman Rickover who let young Jimmy Carter choose any subject he wished to discuss. Of course, Carter chose those about which he knew the most at the time – current events, seamanship, music, literature, naval tactics, electronics, gunnery, and Admiral Rickover began to ask him a series of questions. By his questions, it soon became apparent that Carter knew relatively little about these topics.

Finally, Rickover asked a question where Carter thought he could finally redeem himself. He said, “How did you rank in your class at the Naval Academy?” Carter’s chest swelled with pride as he answered, “Sir, I ranked fifty-ninth in a class of eight hundred and twenty!” He sat back and waited for the congratulations but they never came. Instead, the admiral looked at him long and hard and asked, “Did you do your best?” Carter gulped and after a moment answered, “No, sir, I did not do my best”. Rickover stared at him for a long time, and then before ending the interview and leaving the room, he asked one final question which has stayed with Carter throughout his life: “Why not?” and then he slowly left the room.

Although I am no Admiral Rickover, I ask you the same question this morning: If you are not doing your best, then why not? Do you give the quality time to your studies that they require? Do you complete your written homework and studying in a quiet atmosphere without any interruptions from music, cell phone, texts, television, and other distractions? Do you take advantage of your teachers’ office hours when help is needed? Are you proactive when you are absent from a class by contacting your teacher about missed work? Do your organizational skills need improvement? Are you using your daily planner as it was intended? Do you come to class with all necessary supplies? Are you honest with all your assignments, citing references where needed, refraining from copying another’s homework or

supplying it to a classmate? Do you look for opportunities to stretch your mind, imagination, and feelings even if doing so involves some risk and the possibility of failure? Are you flexible and open to other points of view? Do you listen carefully to others, recognizing how much you can learn in this way? Are you working to the best of YOUR ability? If not, then I ask you again, why not?

As some of you know, teaching is a second career for me, having worked years ago for two of the large oil companies. One thing that always strikes me about a school setting rather than one in industry is the number of new beginnings at our disposal. Each academic year is a new beginning, each semester, each quarter, each cycle. In fact, today is the new beginning of the second quarter. You have a clean page on which to write your various stories and accomplishments for this quarter and for the remainder of the year. Reflect for a moment on the first quarter just completed and what worked for you and what did not --- what made you successful and what hindered that success. Carry forward what seemed to work and ditch what did not, but not before thinking through why it hindered your success.

Anyone who has ever succeeded at something will tell you, if they are being honest, that they learned more from analyzing their failures than they ever learned from their successes.

In mid- February, we will assemble in the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola for the convocation honoring students for their academic achievements of the first semester. Decide right now that your name will be among those read at that assembly --- whether it be for first honors, second honors, or honorable mention. You, and only you, know where your name belongs if you are giving your studies your best effort. Each of you has in his/her hand a winning lottery ticket --- called a Loyola education. It is a priceless advantage and a gift. Make up your mind that you will not waste it by throwing this ticket in a drawer unused, but that you will cash it in by doing your best. That’s all that anyone ever asks – do your best and you will feel good about yourself, knowing that you are working to your full potential and on your way to becoming a life-long learner. If you take away anything from my presentation, I would like it to be just these two words: “WHY NOT? After all, look what they did for Jimmy Carter!

I wish you the best in this quarter ahead and for the remainder of the year.

Thank you for your attention.