Provost Pontari reminds summer 2024 graduates of their resilience

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Beth Pontari’s full remarks from the Aug. 10, 2024 summer commencement

Thank you, President Davis.  Good afternoon to our degree candidates, their family and friends and members of the Furman community. It is nice to see so many people here to celebrate the accomplishments of this group of students who are receiving their Bachelor’s degrees and Master’s degrees.

As you might expect, our summer commencement ceremony is much smaller, or as I prefer to describe it, more intimate.   Because of that, we try to share some details about our graduates that are a bit more personalized.  So, we reach out to faculty and advisors to get a sense of our graduates.

So, before I go into what might be traditional commencement remarks, I wanted to share some themes that emerged from learning about our students graduating this afternoon. I won’t name names, (I see a slight look of panic on the graduate’s faces) but I think you will get a sense of the graduates that we celebrate today.  So here goes.

All of these graduates got here today (like many of our graduates) by being resilient.  Many experienced adversities and challenges but they kept their focus, they learned from setbacks, they persisted and here they are.

They were determined (one graduate was described as having “remarkable perseverance”, another as having demonstrated “great fortitude and flexibility”).  But they also channeled this determination and encouraged those around them – they helped others to be determined.  They stayed positive and were able to inspire their peers.  Especially for our students graduating with Master’s degrees – their paths are often unique and they draw great support and strength from their cohorts and maybe even the students they teach.

It is not surprising then that these soon-to-be graduates made Furman a better place – a more welcoming place – and that they contributed to our community in ways that aren’t listed on their transcript.

These are creative individuals – they are artists, musicians, and writers – whose accomplishments at Furman go well beyond papers, presentations and exams.

Many are leaders.  Researchers and readers.  Volunteers in our community.  Experts in pop culture.  Even video game designers.

Many of our graduate students are responsible for educating the K – 12 students in our community – one of the most important jobs that anyone can do.   As we know, across the nation, educators face challenging headwinds. It’s in that context that we are so appreciative that our graduate students here this afternoon have trusted Furman with the opportunity to continue their own learning as educators and leaders in the state.   We thank you all so very much for your dedication to your craft and your willingness to go even further in your training to obtain a graduate degree.  Your level of commitment and passion for what you do is inspiring to all of us.

I’m sure I am missing many roles and accomplishments of our graduates.  But these students here today have been described as: Curious. Passionate. Hardworking. A Stand out. Insightful. Tenacious. Uncommonly decent. Independent. A legendary good egg.  Generous with time and support in serving others. Open minded. Warm hearted. Favorites among their peers.

It is clear that each of you made your mark at Furman and that many of you have made your mark outside of Furman. We are so proud of your hard work and resilience, and thankful that you shared your gifts and talents with our Furman community and the community beyond Furman.

As you made your mark on Furman, we hope that Furman made its mark on you.  Our intention is to help every student – every student – develop into a purposeful, successful graduate – we want to graduate individuals who, when they leave here, are poised to make a difference in their communities, to bring with them the skills they have gained and the experiences they have had, to whatever their next thing is, to start the next chapter with confidence and meaningful determination.  From what we learned about all of you, what you have brought to your Furman experience and hopefully what you have taken from it, we have no doubt that you are on your way.

I want to take a moment to thank the faculty and staff who have supported you along your pathway, some of whom are here today.  We appreciate the dedication and passion that you bring to your work in helping the students we celebrate here today to reach their potential and to deliver the promises of The Furman Advantage – helping students craft individualized pathways through challenging in-class learning, paired and complemented with opportunities for hands-on learning – mentored by faculty and staff with the goal of achieving success and a life of purpose after Furman.

As with most traditional commencement speeches, I leave you with a charge – one that I hope will resonate with you and that is pretty straight forward.

Graduates.  We need you.  The world needs you.  We need your minds, your skills, your passions, and your genuine care for others.  We need you to apply your critical thinking skills, your communication skills, your leadership and teamwork skills, your ability to dialogue across difference – all of these things – to bring light and optimism to wherever you land next and whatever comes next for you.

We are confident that you will succeed. Employers and graduate schools tell us how competent, talented and effective our graduates are – so we know you are ready.

But it will take more than the skills and abilities I just listed.

As most commencement remarks leave graduates with three points – here are my 3 – 3 C’s.

It will take courage.  The world can be a challenging place.  There is polarization, mistrust and even unrest.

So it will take courage to continue to do the right thing.  To speak out.  To continue to stretch yourself and be open to the uncomfortable –   because as you have demonstrated – the uncomfortable is where a lot of the learning and growing takes place.  It will take courage – to keep the determination that you showed here at Furman – but now out there in a different and perhaps more challenging and less-structured context.

It will take compassion.  For others.  To find common ground.  World events, and local events continue to show us how hard this seems to be.  We need leaders who can help us navigate through with a steady hand and an open mind and open heart.

We often find ourselves in the uncomfortable spaces because of our relationships – because of our interactions – so it will take compassion for others to make progress.

But also compassion for yourselves.  We know Furman students and graduates are hard on themselves.  We have high expectations and you have high expectations and generally that is a good thing.  At the same time, as you have already demonstrated, it is important to give others and ourselves grace so that we have the opportunity to make change – to learn from our successes and our setbacks – so that we can get to the final “C” – Community.

It will take community.  Finding people and a place where you feel supported and understood, where you will make a difference – like you did here at Furman, is so very important to your next chapter.

We hope that you found community at Furman. And we hope you continue to come back to this community, to stay connected to it, to continue to lean on it.  The Furman faculty and staff who may be here today, or who shared their stories about you with us, they will still be there for you.  Your Furman peers and friends will be there for you.  To support you when you face challenges and to celebrate with you when you succeed.

We know that if you take your Furman education, and lead and live with courage and compassion, you will help the new communities you enter or create thrive.  Courage, compassion and Community.

In closing, WE NEED YOU.

You now have an undergraduate or a graduate degree. This is not something to under appreciate or under value. Be mindful of the talents and gifts that you have to offer.

Have compassion for others and yourself and find your people.

Take the skills you have gained, the lessons you have learned and the passions you have fed during your time at Furman

Be courageous to contribute to your communities.

We are thankful that you chose Furman and that you contributed to the vitality of our community…

We are excited to see what the future holds for all of you.  We wish you the very best in your next chapter.