Penn State Behrend's Fall 2023 Commencement ceremony was held Friday, December 15, at Junker Center.
Graduates and their guests heard addresses from Dr. Babajide Osatuyi, associate professor of management information systems, and from Thomas C. Hoffman II, attorney at Knox, McLaughlin, Gornall & Sennett, P.C. The texts of the commencement addresses are below.
See the Fall 2023 Commencement Program
Navigating Waves of Change: Sailing into a Compassionate Future
Dr. Babjide Osatuyi
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed faculty, proud parents, and, of course, the incredible graduates of Penn State Behrend's class of 2023, today, I want to talk about resilience, compassion, and being the change-makers that the world so desperately needs. But before I get too deep into the heavy stuff, let me share a quick story.
During my own college days, there was a professor whose passion for computational models was infectious. He would often emphasize that these models worked on the premise of holding other variables constant — “constant” being the operative word. With a twinkle in his eye, he would remind us, “In truth, the world holds no constants, except one: Change is the only constant.” Back then, we would exchange knowing glances, smirking at the predictability of his favorite insight. Yet, standing here today, the profound truth of his words resonates more than ever.
You see, life is a lot like the unpredictable seas. You start with a plan, and then suddenly, a giant wave of change comes along, capsizing your neat little boat. Graduates, you've navigated through some of these rough waters during your time here, whether it was the pandemic that swept over the globe leading to the transition to virtual learning and isolation from peers, or the anxiety of the unknown.
Cast your minds back to that very first day on campus—the overwhelming sense of being a small fish entering a vast ocean. Yet, you didn't just float; you swam, you navigated through unfamiliar waters, and you thrived. The journey through these halls has been an anvil, and your experiences the hammer, shaping you into formidable individuals equipped to ride the relentless waves of an ever-changing world.
Compassion, too, took on a new meaning during these times. It became the lighthouse guiding us through the dark. I remember during the pandemic’s peak, neighbors leaving care packages at other neighbors’ doors—a gesture that reminded us that even when we’re apart, we’re together in spirit. That compassion, that sense of community, is what carried us through.
As you graduate and go out into the world, remember to be compassionate. Take time to listen to others, extend a hand when needed, and be that beacon of hope for someone else. Whether it's a comforting word to a friend or volunteering to help those less fortunate, your acts of kindness can make the world a better place.
Now, here's a bit of wisdom from the legendary Dr. Seuss: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Your education here has given you the knowledge and skills to chart your course, but it's up to you to decide where you want to go.
Life is an adventure, and you're the captain of your ship. You might not have all the answers now, and that's perfectly fine. Sometimes, it's the detours and unexpected ports of call that lead to the most beautiful discoveries. So, embrace the unknown, set sail into uncharted waters, and remember that it's okay to change course if you find a new passion along the way.
As you venture forth, keep in mind the words of Albert Einstein: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” Your time here at Penn State Behrend is yesterday's lesson. Today is your canvas, and tomorrow is the masterpiece you will create.
In closing, remember that change is not your enemy; it's your ally. Embrace it, learn from it, and let it propel you to greatness. As you embark on this new journey, be resilient, show compassion, and be the change-makers our world so desperately needs.
Congratulations, class of 2023! You've already faced many storms, and I have no doubt that you'll continue to sail through them with the confidence, compassion, and resilience that define you. The world is waiting for your unique contributions. So, set your course, hoist your sails, and go out there and make waves!
Thank you, and may fair winds accompany you in your journey!
Dr. Babajide Osatuyi is an associate professor of management information systems and chair of the Functional Data Analytics program at Penn State Behrend.
Just Do It
Thomas C. Hoffman II
Congratulations, class of 2023. It amazes me that my wife and I graduated thirty-five years ago, and my children graduated three years ago.
When I was asked to speak at your commencement, I was honored, but wondered why I was being honored.
Apparently, it is because I have accomplished a few things over those 35 years. In considering advice I could give you as you embark on this great journey after graduation, my goal was to keep it as simple as possible.
When I started my first full-time professional job at Ernst & Young, I was given a large complex assignment for which I had no formal education or training. It was generally in law and accounting, but completely outside of anything I had studied, or any work experience I had.
At the time, the senior manager supervising young attorneys at Ernst & Young looked at me, once I had this large pile of work to do, and said, “Just do it.” The advice I got from the Ernst & Young professionals, who had a few more years of experience than me, was to gather the legal resources I would need to learn about the project and do my best to complete it. After working on the project for a month and doing my best, I submitted it. Upon review, the senior manager was quite kind and said, “You fudged it up less than anybody else.” I guess that meant I did well, because he kept giving me work.
The important lesson was “just do it.” Do not spend time thinking of reasons why you cannot or should not pursue an activity, goal or objective.
As you embrace life after graduation, you, obviously, have hopes. These are different than wishes, preferences or expectations. To make a hope a reality, you have to do something.
I would imagine when the Covid pandemic reared its ugly head, you all “hoped” that you would make it through to today, your graduation day. Of course, you couldn’t just hope blindly; you had to do something. You had to find a new way to persevere in your education amongst your friends, professors, and in society in general. If you sat around contemplating how terrible everything was and did nothing, you wouldn’t be here today. Instead, you “just did it” even though what you were “just doing” was completely novel. During that time, we all made many mistakes, learned and adjusted. Whether you know it or not, you have a lot of experience with “just do it.”
What else does “just do it” apply to? Just do it applies to family, your work or profession, civic life, and much more.
FAMILY: Having planned roughly 5,000 estates in 32 years, I have heard a lot of family stories. No human being is without regret. Those elderly clients, who always give me the best advice because they are too old to care what other people think, either conclude that they have regrets because they should have “just done more” or have very few regrets because they “just did” all they could.
None of them regret time spent with their parents, siblings, spouses, children, etc. Instead of contemplating who might plan the next family gathering or party, they just did it. I feel pretty confident in saying that all humans are better adjusted the more time they spend with their families. Find a way to spend time with your family. Go to their games, performances, etc. “Just do it.”
Not one of my senior clients has ever complained or regretted taking “one too many vacations” or going to “one too many family events.”
WORK/PROFESSION: In your work and profession, study your job. Do not accept “good enough” or the notion that we are doing it this way because “we always do it this way.” In all matters, find a way to do it better.
The difference between being a “difference maker” and everyone else, is the difference maker “just does things.” Difference makers “just do it” every day. They try new things. They take risks. They engage in experimentation. Difference makers don’t view unexpected outcomes as failures. They view them as the next step to doing it better. Stumbling is a necessary activity in learning how to walk and run. Just get up and do it.
Avoid people who look for excuses as to why they cannot “just do it.” Keep negative people at a distance.
Being an attorney, I spend a lot of time around other attorneys, doctors, and other professionals. They are all very smart. However, they are very often encumbered by the notion that they cannot do something because they don’t know if “it will work.” I have seen people with great potential mired in a profession they do not like or underachieve dramatically because they cannot “just try something new.” They are afraid it won’t work. Fear is the primary villain that needs to be avoided to “just do it.”
Over the years, people have come to think I’ve accomplished a lot. If you could see the ideas that didn’t work out, left in the wake of my career, you might consider me a total failure. Many (10 or 15) ideas have worked out very well; hundreds, and probably thousands, have been modified, discarded, modified again, discarded again, and sometimes just entirely discarded. To the best of your ability, avoid the paralysis created by “needing to know it will work.”
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY: “Just do it.”
We all want the world to be a better place, but how does it get there? The notion that “I want the world to be a better place, but I don’t know how to help” is too often the excuse for inaction. “Just do it.” Get involved.
Get involved with Penn State.
Who doesn’t want to cure poverty? I would certainly appreciate someone giving me the secret formula. In the fall of 2013, I met a gentleman named Bill Stickland, who had (and still has) a great idea to help people in poverty. His idea is a personal cure for poverty; one person at a time.
I then made a New Year’s resolution to engage him. I have only ever kept one New Year’s resolution, and that was it. On January 4, 2014, I “just did it.” I picked up the phone and called him.I called others. We started on a process that culminated with a resource for Erie called the Erie Center for Arts and Technology (ECAT), located in the old Wayne Elementary School on East 6th Street.
In the early days of getting ECAT established, I drafted Chancellor Ford to help me. If you think of doing something good, you must think also in terms of Penn State. It is natural; if I think something is good, I include Penn State.
It is also important not to care who gets the credit. As president Truman once said, “It is amazing how much you can get done if you don’t care who gets the credit.” At the ECAT groundbreaking, a number of years later, the primary opponent to the ECAT project was interviewed by the local news. Although he did not claim credit for ECAT, it certainly appeared as though he was very involved if you simply watched the evening news that night. One of my friends asked me if I was aggravated because he was an opponent to the project, but viewed as though he was involved. I said “absolutely not.” After the interview, he had to help us.
You graduates are already experts at “just do it.” You don’t get through high school and college by sitting around, and you don’t get through college during a pandemic by feeling sorry for yourselves. Keep up your momentum. When in doubt, “just do it.” It will often not work out. You can improvise, adapt and overcome, and just keep on doing it!!
We are all looking forward to seeing each of you make us proud and adding to the strength of our Penn State alumni.
Congratulations!
We are Penn State!
Thomas C. Hoffman II, a 1988 graduate of Penn State, is an attorney with Knox, McLaughlin, Gornall & Sennett, P.C.