U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, delivered the following commencement address at Miami Dade College on Saturday May 3, 2008.
Thank you, Jesus Reyes, for introducing me. I’d also like to thank my friend Dr. Eduardo Padron, President of Miami Dade College, and Dr. Greg Gray of Miami Dade’s Kendall Campus for welcoming me here today.
Most importantly, congratulations, Miami Dade College class of 2008! Thank you for inviting me to celebrate with you today.
Look around at all of these people … who grew up in so many different places … speaking so many different languages. This is the largest and most diverse college in the nation—and probably in the world. Como las naciones unidas!
Miami Dade’s students hail from 150 different countries. Every day, you’re laughing and celebrating and learning from one another. This is what education is all about. This campus sets an example the entire world could learn from.
I am so honored and grateful to be here with you. That’s why I plan on wearing my Miami Dade T-shirt with pride.
I know many of you have jobs, and many of you are parents. Many of you are the first in your families to go to college. That’s a tremendous accomplishment.
It’s one thing to do what everyone before you has always done. But breaking new ground—that’s something a lot of people never do. Especially when it comes to challenging themselves, as you have.
For example, even among people whose heart conditions make living healthier a matter of life or death, nine out of ten don’t change.
And when that 10 percent do change, they often do it because someone else inspired them.
I’m sure all of you can think of at least one person who has inspired you. And I know many of them are here with us.
Felicidades y gracias por su trabajo. I want to congratulate all of you parents and husbands and wives and teachers and friends and siblings and sons and daughters on a job well done.
We all know that learning is often a team effort. And today, Evelyn Lao is lucky enough to be graduating along with her son, Matthew. Evelyn’s daughter Amy is also a student here … and her other daughter Sarah is headed to Miami Dade soon. Talk about a family affair! Eduardo, do you give family discounts? Congratulations to all of you.
