AMU Commencement Speakers Offer Practical and Spiritual Advice
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- Published on Saturday, 04 May 2013 20:29
The 2013 graduating class of Ave Maria University heard some words of practical – and spiritual – advice Saturday morning from both Gov. Rick Scott and honorary degree recipient Kevin 'Seamus' Hasson, founder of the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty.
Gov. Scott shared with the graduates, whose friends and family packed the Golisano Field House to standing-room only, ten things he said he would "tell myself if I had the opportunity to be in your place today."
His advice included the practical, such as staying out of debt , which he said is "overtaking young people today and limiting their future," to treasuring family and other relationships, staying healthy, taking risks,and spiritual, such as the keeping God at the center of their lives and the need to forgive.
"If there is one thing I hope you remember from this list today, it's this challenge [to forgive]," he said. "Value your family, your friends and all the wonderful people you meet along the way. They won't be perfect. Neither will you. They will need forgiveness just like me and just like you. But if you accept this challenge it will be easy to have fun and you will love the journey God gave you." Click here for the complete list of Gov. Scott's 10 nuggets of advice.
Mr. Hasson, introduced by AMU President Jim Towey as a person who's work on behalf "of our right of conscience [has] been of divine inspiration," urged graduates to be open to having God work through them. Right, Mr. Hasson with Mr. Towey (l), and AMU Academic VP Michael Dauphinais, Mathematics Professor Michael Maraalli and Theology Department Chair Fr. Matthew Lamb.
"Don't be daunted by your mistakes and don't fear your failures," he said. "The world and the Church are in rough shape. We need all the help we can get. And God could do things like the Beckett fund if he wanted to all by himself, but practically speaking, he doesn't seem to. He seems to work through people who want to help. Ask God to let you help him."
The Beckett Fund , which Mr. Hasson founded 17 years ago, is defending AMU in the school's challenge against the Obamacare mandate that insurance plans must provide free contraceptives and other services contrary to Catholic teaching.
"Thanks to him and his lawyers," Mr. Towey said, "we are going to prevail."
The ceremonies Saturday, at which 164 undergraduate and 16 graduate degrees were conferred, lacked the familiar presence of Ave Maria University founder Tom Monaghan, who Mr. Towey said could not be there because he was attending his grandson's graduation this weekend from the University of Michigan.
"But if you want to thank Tom Monaghan for the money he contributed to your education," Mr. Towey said, "then get to heaven," which Mr. Monaghan has said was his goal for all students and the reason he started AMU.
Left, Mr. Towey with class Valedictorian Kelly Ann Lover. Below, Fr. Robert Garrity, associate theology professor, arriving at the 
ceremony.
Click here for photo gallery at the Naples Daily News site
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Following is an edited transcript of Governor Rick Scott's 10 things he would have told himself when he was graduating from college:
Number 10. Family is sacred. Keep your family close. Thank your mom, thank your dad and thank everybody else who helped you get to where you are today. Unfortunately, there will clearly come a day when you cannot check in with your mom and dad anymore. Make your family a priority, even if they end up far away, and even when you don't always agree. It will profoundly influence your life for the better if you love them.
Number 9. Your body is the only one you get. Trust me, you feel invincible now, but your body is the only one you've got. There are no upgrades along the way, so treasure your health.
Number 8. Learn to manage money. Take time to understand your finances. Debt is overtaking young people today and limiting their future. Read a money management book. Save a portion of every paycheck no matter how small. Stay out of debt. After getting a great education, invest in yourself by understanding the best way to manage your money.
Number 7. Be careful of 'must haves.' I think it's important to take stock of what you think is a must-have In your life. What do you treasure? As the Bible says, 'for what your treasure is, there your heart will be also.' What do you treasure today? Take stock of your heart and look at what dream you may have planted at its center. There is only one thing worth so much focus, time and attention and that is God. The job, the money, the success, no matter how much you achieve will never really satisfy you. God designed our hearts to find rest only in his presence.
Number 6. Enjoy the journey. I once heard someone say that if you know where you came from and know where you're going, it is easy to enjoy the journey along the way. As a child of God, I know where I'm from and where one day I will return . . . Try the impossible. Follow your dreams. In my life, I have been as surprised by my successes as I have been by my failures and I have absolutely learned from both. Thankfully God gives us one day at a time, and when you decide to enjoy each day as it comes, you are guaranteed to have much more fun along the way.
Number 5. Build relationships. The growth of every great company starts with two people. Relationships matter . . . Everyone wants to be loved. Make everyone around you feel special. Be respectful of everyone. Love with all of your heart. You will live longer, you will have more friends, you will be happier, you will be way more successful in your chosen profession and you will enjoy your life much more. Take time to appreciate those around you. You will not be able to do anything truly great by yourself.
Number 4. Travel the world. I've been to all seven continents. I've been to almost 50 countries. .. There are wonderful people and places all over the world.
Number 3. Trust. The truth is, the world is a scary, unfair place. Bad things happen to good people. Dreams don't always come true, and sometimes life just breaks your heart. In a world like this, the logical thing to do would be shut down and just close up shop -- do everything on your own and don't depend on anyone. Trust is one of the most powerful of all human actions. Trust is the foundation of great friendships, wonderful marriages, selfless parents and great companies. Let people into your life. Share with others knowing you will be disappointed at times. Trust provides one of the greatest sources of joy in an often senseless world.
Number 2: Take risk. Before you're 80 years old, you should be able to look back and say you've tried a lot of stuff. I'll save you the suspense. It's not all going to work out. I tell my daughters it will be very difficult for them to make as many mistakes as I've made in my life. Those mistakes were clearly the precursors of future success . . . I tried a lot of things with no regrets, to change the world just a little bit for the better. Don't live in fear and don't worry what people might say or think about you. Take the shot.
Number 1: Forgive. If you're going to be in a family, if you're going to value relationships, trust people and enjoy the journey, even when you make mistakes – and you will make mistakes along the way, trust me – you are going to need forgiveness. Forgiveness is a complicated word. Who decides when to forgive, what to forgive, how to forgive? I clearly don't have all the answers but I know we are called to forgive as God forgave. An incredible standard . . . Forgiveness is supernatural. It requires grace...if there is one thing I hope you remember from this list today it's this challenge. Value your family, your friends and all the wonderful people you meet along the way. They won't be perfect. Neither will you. They will need forgiveness just like me and just like you. But if you accept this challenge it will be easy to have fun and you will love the journey God gave you this opportunity.