My commencement speech at Lee University:

The following is the transcript of the speech I gave to the Lee University student body in April 2009 at Senior Reflections Chapel:

Who knew that when I got my acceptance letter from Lee University I would end up writing front page stories for a daily metropolitan newspaper, climbing Mount Sinai, and perhaps most importantly of all, getting my hands on a Paul Conn bobble-head.

So when I was asked to speak tonight, my initial reaction was one of thrilled excitement. And then I read what we were supposed to speak about: our story. The story of our experience at Lee University – what we learned, how we changed, etcetera.

And this slightly scared me. I was prepared to make three points and give a speech that you might hopefully remember years down the line.

But… instead, it’s my story. I don’t know how to talk about myself. In fact, I feel like I’m equipped to talk about anything but myself. And so I’ve labored for days trying to pinpoint those key memories that might provide just a five-minute glimpse into the last four years.

So here it is, the most concise graduation speech you’ll ever hear:

Filed under: In Retrospect

My speech to the Lee University student body

The following is the transcript of the speech I gave to the Lee University student body in April 2009 at Senior Reflections Chapel:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

When you’re searching for something, anything, to talk about at chapel and all that comes to mind is the college benediction, you might feel at a loss.

But in fact, I think our benediction, shorter than a Twitter message at 123 characters, deserves a message all its own.

Let the words of my mouth… be acceptable in thy sight.

As a journalism major, I’ve found that the words we speak: in print, on camera, and especially online, have tremendous impact across continents, and decades.

Filed under: In Retrospect

Messing with Mischief

Pranks. Freshman year of college. The two are inseparable.

In fact, it seems institutions of higher education only seem to magnify the prank probability percentage by placing people (specifically guys) in residence halls together.

I spent my freshman year in O’Bannon Hall where, three weeks into the semester, a rash of pranks between O’Bannon and rival Bowdle Hall broke out.

Filed under: In Retrospect