Honorable P. Mike Jurry Delivers Keynote to Class of 2018 Graduating Students of Tubman University.

ADDRESS: “Marketing the College of Management and Administration through her graduates” of the Tubman University

It is good to be back at Tubman University and I feel good being back at Tubman University. Early last month, I received a letter of invitation to be present at this occasion today. The letter stated: “This year’s event will include honoring of some distinguished personalities for their contributions to students and graduates of the College of Management, and gowning you as an Outstanding Graduate of our college.” I am dignified to be gowned.

However, as your Representative, I believe, the number of people that serve you does not measure leadership, but by the number of people you serve. I believe that GREATNESS IN LEADERSHIP is EMPOWERING OTHER PEOPLE AND NOT PURSUING POWER; AND SERVING OTHER PEOPLE, NOT BEING SERVED. Therefore, I have come to honor your request that summoned me here to be the keynote speaker at this unique occasion – to serve you.

The invitation letter did not mention any topic and so I have been struggling on the topic to speak on; particularly in the presence of my instructors, to my colleagues and instructors themselves. Ladies and gentlemen, considering myself to one of you, permit me to speak to us on topic:

The Change I Ought To Be

I like to begin with 2 Quotes by Nelson Mandela:

“Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I felt down and got back up again”.

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart”.

I have returned to the College of Management as one of you. So, I think I will be able to talk to you in a language that goes to your heart. We all have the ability to accomplish something…truly anything if we ought to become the change we want to see. In this world, life is short but we often do not reflect on the time we waste doing unimportant things. Spend your time wisely to be the change you ought to be.

• Spend your time on your education,

• Spend your time on your family,

• Spend your time on your friends,

• Spend your time on your health

• And spend your time on your passions.

In life, stand up for what you believe…that is what you need to spend your time – your passions.

To become successful, do the things you love – your passions. Warren Buffet said and I quote, “In the world of business, the people who are most successful are those who are doing what they love”.

I believe the major secret of successful life is the ability to find solutions to our passions. The change we ought to be is about our passions. Let us take into consideration of the following:

• If you want to be an outstanding educated personality, what do you do, you go to school – seek higher education.

• If you want to be a millionaire, what do you do, you start a business – create a business, establish a company.

• If you want to be a mechanic, what you do not do, you do not study in a tailoring shop.

Most of us want to be successful, and so we sit and pray for financial breakthrough without knowing what to do to be successful. Stop spending all of your time to pray only. It doesn’t work that way. Do something to change your passion. Real success will come to you if you solve the problem to your passion. Be the change you ought to be!

Change comes when we take a critical look around us, see the challenges to our passions and solve them. Today’s assembly is about you and me – it is about us. In few years’ time, you will start your careers. Many of you in this room will be working for the top institutions in this country. You will then get marry, you then may build a house. Your lives will be set for you. Let me be emphatic that on the other hand, some of you may not find a job. Whatever your case may be, the question is: how will you be the change you ought to be?

The approach about our passions may pass us or may fail us.

• I know people who graduated that didn’t find jobs and others found jobs immediately.

• I know people who never went to universities but found what they love.

• I know people who took gap years and found their purpose.

• I know people who were sure of what they were going to do and change their minds.

• I know people who have children but are single.

• I know people who are in relationship who love someone else

My point is everything in life happens according to our time. You may look at some people you feel that are ahead of you or maybe some you feel that are behind. But everything happens according to the change we want to be. So I urge you to be the change you ought to be!

Getting your degree is an achievement; not being married but still happy is beautiful; starting a family at old age is still possible; building a house in your old age is still great. Be patient! Don’t let anything stop you from being the change you ought to be.

Let me summarize with a quote: Albert Einstein said, “not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that is counted truly counts”. And this is the most important thing, I want you to create meaningful, purposeful, fulfilling lives for yourselves and learn how to use that to make an impact and a difference in your lives and the lives of others. Be the change you ought to be!

Life is in abundance with opportunities mixed up with sound judgment. Anyone who seeks life gears it. Seek life, gear life to your choice, be the chauffer of your own life and destiny and have life to its fullness. This can be done if you can become “the Change you ought to be”.

Before I take my seat, I want to remind you that the “Being the Change you ought to be” is in your hands. If you sit back, others will transform your community. Nobody will wait for you – life must continue. If you become that “Change you ought to be”, you will also help transform the shape and destiny of your children, your people, our university, our county and our country.

I THANK YOU!