graduation talk

Posts Tagged ‘columbia college’

U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder delivered a hopeful commencement address to the 2009 graduates of Columbia College. He started his speech by telling the graduates about his personal experiences as freshman of the said college. He also recalled exciting memories about “Vietnam War, the rise of black consciousness, the woman’s movement, the stirrings of gay pride, the feeling that anything was possible, that the world could be changed “.

While he believe that his generation had done good and mighty things for the community and the world in general, still the work is not yet finished. He challenged the graduates to aim higher and surpass the accomplishments of the previous generations. According to him, as Columbia men and women they must embrace their obligation to be a public servant of the community. Holder defined public service as “not a career path to be chosen or avoided; nor is it an extracurricular activity for which only some will find time for in their busy lives”. Public servants should make selfless contributions for the betterment of the nation. Achieving a college degree from a prestigious institution like Columbia College is bundled with a responsibility to give back a part of one’s self to the community.

Holder enumerated some of ways to serve the public such as helping the less fortunate children who didn’t have the chance to enjoy a good education. He also encouraged the graduates to help and recognize the unsung leaders who worked hard for the community and set them as role models for playing by the rules. In closing, Holder reminded the graduates to never lose their hope in making an inevitable change for the improvement of the world’s current state.

Here is the video and full script of Atty. Gen. Eric Holder’s commencement speech at Columbia College last May 19, 2009.

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