Well, who would have thunk it?? Florida boy from Lake Mary spending four years in Charlotte, NC only to find more than just his way around campus or to the nearest restaurant. If you take a leap back in time and look at the period right before I came to Queens in the Summer of 2005, I suppose you could call me naive to say the least. Generally speaking, we don't always go into new situations with anything more than optimistic predictions and desired outcomes. The question is, however, how often are we right? Looking back, I think the beauty in all of it was how much I undersold MY potential and this university's potential before I enrolled at Queens.
Four years later, I stare at my diploma on the wall in that shiny wood grain McCOLL School of Business frame hung high for all to see. Just a little over a week ago, the class of 2009 (all 206 of us!) walked proudly across that stage on Burwell Lawn and never felt so powerful. In our hands we held degrees that stood for something. Something that was larger than us and we knew it. Each student sat in those little black seats on that warm Saturday morning staring at a piece of paper that took four years or more of hard work and diligence to earn. The ssacrifice, persistence and guts it took to wake up each morning and step back into the classroom to challenge ourselves just one more day is amazing. Four years later it has come to an end but not without knowing that exactly what we all did was well worth it. To one student, that degree might stand for a cure for cancer and for others maybe the ultimate sign of success for being the first in their family to graduate from college. For me, it was easy. My degree is going to save Ford Motor Company.
I spent about two months underselling what I was about to learn and four years proving myself wrong. I could spend all night writing about the experience or value you will gain from a Queens education, but if you've read any of my previous blogs I would be repeating myself. Instead, I will keep this one short. To be honest, I've never been so happy to be wrong or so proud of being a part of something so big. Queens will become a part of who you are and what you will be. It will shape you as a person and expose you to the potential that life has to offer. Never again will I ever undersell a college education from an institution like Queens or the people who come with it. Students, professors, parents, trustees, alumni and all the folks that make this possible will forever have this university in common wherever we go.
Whether we choose to use this degree as a way to better serve our communities or influence others lives, it will forever hold a special place in all of our hearts because we know exactly what we had to sacrifice to obtain such a degree. Simply put, the last four years were the best of my life. When people ask if I am sad to leave the answer is simple. Of course leaving the place I fell in love with will be difficult to leave, however, what it's sending me away with is priceless and if I had a second chance, I wouldn't change a thing. Knowing I did everything in my power to make my experience worth wild and giving every ounce of myself to exceed my expectations is comforting. I left it all on the table and that's all we can do at the end of the day right?
I will continue writing blogs through the end of the summer to keep you all updated on my first rotation at Ford, however, effective the start of the school year, I will no longer be writing. I can't say how thankful I am that you all have kept up with and supported my blogs over the last year or so. It means a tremendous amount to me and I hope you've enjoyed my blogging about this little slice of heaven. I meant every word I've ever written and hope you've all gained something from this like I did. I leave for Detroit on Memorial weekend and look forward to catching you all up as soon as I'm settled in. Thank you again for so much support, you're all such wonderful people! I'll provide a new e-mail address when I open my next account for questions, etc... and until then, enjoy your summers!! Congrats to those of you who are graduating, that's an outstanding achievement and I hope you're ready for YOUR next step!
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