The Adventures of Tod & Adrianna: May 2011

Yes, I skipped getting up at 4am to watch the Royal Wedding of Catherine and Prince William in lieu of my own graduation. Considering that I am a citizen of a country which is a member of the Commonwealth, does that make me a bad Canadian? Or does that mean that I am becoming more American? ;) Hold on is there actually a 4 am? No! There's is only a 4 pm! You're pulling my leg. Personally I prefer my sleep over waking up at any time of the day that should only exist in the afternoon.

Not to mention I had my own great things to do and titles to earn! Here are a few pictures highlighting the momentous event.

Guess what they had leading the Processional of Graduates--Bag pipers!!! I *LOVE* Bagpipes!!! The sound of those instruments made me even happier.

Here's a cool game: Where in the crowd is Adrianna Anderson?

Hint: I'm sitting in front of the kid from Afghanistan.

Tod said he could always find me because he recognized my beautiful hair.

There she is!

The speakers at Commencement were quite good. Featured with their photograph are a few memorable quotes.
(all photos courtesy of my hubby, Tod.)

Our Student Body Pres. called this a "Royal Day". Not usually into pop culture he chose to use the Royal wedding as a metaphor for the degrees we will recieve. We have earned these titles jsut as Catherine, a commoner, has worked for and earned her title as Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge. This is not a simple task which was completed and earned. He poses the question to the audience: What will you do with your title?

The big statement in Pres. Holland's talk: Make tomorow's "Today" possible, meaning that we should go out into the world and use our skills, abilities and experience with higher education to the betterment of those around us and not only express our knowledge but take action pave the way for those who will follow after us.
He quoted C.S. Lewis, (I will summarize the quote): Don't put off crucial aims. Do it with proper planning and careful decision.
Another summarized quote from W.H. Murrary: Providence moves with commitment.

The Keynote speaker, Robert C. Gay: Each of you can make a difference. Do something that has significant impact upon others lives. Great responsibility comes with great opportunity.
This accomplishment is not about some job. Forget about yourself and work to serve and build others. Be a builder of souls, not a passerby in the mainstream of mediocrity.
It's whee you go forward that matters, not that you go forward.
Just getting by will not answer "How will I make a difference out there?"
"What manner of Men ought ye be? Even as I am." (quoting: 3 Nephi 27:27) Robert then asserts "Each of you have the power to do that."
He shared a story about an experence he had as a Temple president in Africa. The inspiration came "Stop and help that boy" as he was on his way to a meeting. He had seen a boy, about 9 or 10, who was very sorrowful and crying beside the traffic circle he was passing through. Robert asked one of his associates to go fetch the boy while Robert conducted his meeting. Afterwards Robert came out to see the boy, and found that the boy was hiding in the bushes because he "didn't know what the big white man wanted". Robert inquired about why the boy was so sad, and learned that the boy was an orphan. The boy was given a bed by "surrogate parents" but he had to earn his keep by selling materials that his "surrogate parents" made in the markets. He had sold the merchandise for the day and was on his way home when he discovered that he had a hole in his pocket and lost all the money which he had earned. If he returned home without the money he would be accused of stealing, no matter how honest he was about the situation, he would be thrown out on the street to fend for himself again. Robert comforted the boy, gave him the 5 or 6 dollars that he had earned and lost that day, and sent him on his way. This seemingly simple experience, for Robert, took a few minutes and a few dollars to make a difference. For the boy it impacted his life for the better. Robert did not hear from the boy again.
Robert advised us to "Move to the sounds of your heart" and to "Put in your heart unselfish love". I feel that with these words he was also advising us to listen to the light of Christ within us, and to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
To close his remarks Robert spoke about his keynote speaker at his doctoral graduation from Harvard. Mother Teresa was his keynote speaker and she said many powerful things encouraging the graduates to be strong, uphold one another and to make moral choices. He shared with us this message she gave to them, "I may not have gold, I may not have silver, but I can be a brother or a sister or a father or a mother to another soul."