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Discover who you are capable of becoming

Commencement Speech delivered August 11, 2007
by Julianne Doyen
B.A. 2007, Psychology

Read more about Julianne Doyen

Good morning graduates, families, friends, and academic mentors.

I have to say this moment is quite surreal.  Even as I stand before you this morning, I find it hard to believe this day is finally here.  For some of us, this chapter of our lives has consisted of a four-year commitment; for others, including myself, a five- to six-year journey or even longer.  In any case, no one time frame or path is better than the other. For attaining a higher education is more than just a crash course in learning how to do a job.  It is an opportunity to discover who you are and who you are capable of becoming.

When entering Texas State University, I was sure my life calling was to become an art therapist. Yet today I am closing one chapter of my academic career to open another in pursuit of becoming a neuroscientist. I am often asked how I made such a drastic change in direction, and I can honestly say it came down to one class, one moment and one VERY enthusiastic professor.  Dr. Gus Lumia's passion for the field of neuroscience, his enthusiasm for teaching, and his unending dedication to his students' success have greatly impacted who I've become.  There are no words to express my level of gratitude.

This is an outstanding example of how a single event or one individual's actions can have a long-lasting and profound influence on another's life.  Sometimes the resulting "ah-ha!" moments are groundbreaking, and sometimes they are more subtle.  They can be motivated by loss or achievement and can be inspired by a mentor, a family member, an acquaintance, or a complete stranger encountered only briefly in passing.

Living in a society that places such high value on financial success and reaching the top of one's class or profession makes it easy to forget that achieving and maintaining success requires the support of others.  Of equal or more importance in the pursuit of success is not to lose sight of how your actions impact the lives of others.

Whether your future ambitions are to become a scientist, doctor, engineer, researcher, teacher, journalist, artist, parent, or politician, the words of Gandhi still ring true: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Over the past couple of weeks, I have given a lot of thought to the millions of choices I have made, the experiences I have endured, and the relationships I have formed that enabled this very moment to be possible.  To my family, my friends, and colleagues, and to my mentors whose doors were always open, thank you.  Thank you for your honesty and respect, for challenging me on numerous occasions to recognize my full potential, for knowing what to say to keep me motivated, for helping me to see a much larger world of possibilities than I even dreamed, and most importantly, thank you for being such a huge inspiration.  I attribute my personal growth and academic success to you.

And to my fellow graduates: I would like to congratulate you on this momentous occasion.  Your presence here this morning is evidence of the power you innately possess to bring about change. As you enter the  "real world," I hope you remain true to your inquisitive minds, that you never stop asking questions, and that you take every opportunity possible to think outside of the box.  As graduates you now have the tools to promote acceptance of individuality and diverse thought, to communicate innovative ideas to others, and to bring people together to make necessary change a reality.  Therefore, I encourage you to abide by the words of Albert Einstein who said, "Try not to become a person of success, but rather a person of value," meaning wherever your journeys may take you in life, by your example inspire everyone you meet to create a better world.

Thank you and good luck.