Graduation Remarks:

I was honored to be selected as the Advanced Achiever by the EMDT-MS instructors and my peers.  Here are my remarks which were delivered at the Graduation ceremony on June 2, 2011:

Good morning Administrators and Deans, Faculty and Course Directors, fellow graduates, family and friends…

photo by Mike Colletti

A couple of weeks back, as part of our final Action Research presentation, three of us were asked by Dr. Ludgate for a one-word description of the Full Sail Education Media Design and Technology Master of Science degree program we were completing.  My one word became a hyphenated one:  LIFE-CHANGING.  My belief is that these past twelve months was one of those few memorable events that a person will look back to in life:  events like marriage, babies, and job changes. 

A few days later, I was working with Alex, the student selected to speak at my high school’s graduation ceremony, as we refined her remarks.  While I listened to her and read through her text, I realized that change was her theme as well.  Here was an event that, for those young adults, would be an early highlight in their lives, and life-changing as well.

photo by Bernadette Colletti

So, no matter where we are in our life’s journey, young and just starting out, or older and shifting focus, we are subject to change.  And in this century, if we are not willing to and ready for it, change will happen and we will be left behind.  So, for my colleagues and me, this was the perfect time to make the move into the degree program that has brought us here today.

Online learning has its upside and downside, but it is the future.  Technology will continue to have an impact on all of us, and we need to be in front of the parade as leaders in order to guarantee that the needs of our students are met with the resources that are developed.

Web-based tools will eventually, if not already, make the job of the teacher evolve into one as a facilitator, which will, I believe, create more personal contact with the students we teach.  And with that ability to connect with our kids will come more success as we touch their lives and inspire great things from them.

I was fortunate to listen in on most of the presentations given by my friends this past month.  I continued to be amazed as each of them talked of the challenges that they faced and the results they achieved.  I was inspired by the prospects and potential for further growth by each of them, and the enthusiasm and passion each had for his or her work.  I know that, at least for this group, that there will be hundreds, if not thousands of students that will be better for what we have done over the twelve months in this program.

photo by Bernadette Colletti

Finally, to my fellow graduates and friends, please keep passionate about what you do.  Please continue to inspire those who you work with, both colleagues and students.  And, please stay in touch with the rest of us, so we can continue to share in your work.  We have done so much together as we travelled through this program, collaborating and sharing.  Don’t let that stop.

Life-changing.  This year has meant so much to me, as a life-long learner and teacher, as I know my students will be better off since I am better for this experience.

Thank you, Full Sail University.