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The following remarks were
delivered by Prof. Grace Bullaro (English), Lehman's first Adjunct Teacher
of the Year, at the College's 2001 Convocation, held in the Lovinger Theatre
on October 24th:
 Good morning everyone.
I thank you for the honor that you have given me. It's all the more important
because it rewards what I love to do, teach.
The message that I would have delivered on Sept. 12, had we met that
day, would have welcomed you, encouraged you to work hard in your years
at Lehman, and talked about the rosy and secure future that awaited you.
I would have recounted a light yet serious anecdote about a young boy
whose family had destroyed his curiosity and love of knowledge through coercion,
in order to make the point that we, your teachers and parents, must respect
your judgment and autonomy.
I still believe in the importance of all these things, yet I could not
face you today if I didn't also acknowledge the way that our world has changed
since Sept. 11.
Our future, our future, not just yours, no longer appears as rosy and
secure as it did before. At best, the future is unpredictable. We have seen
things that we hoped we'd never see. We have lost friends and loved ones,
even one of our own students. But it is to be hoped that these horrendous
events have also led us to reconsider our values and our priorities. That
we have all "grown up" and realized that our responsibilities
are greater than we knew. It is to be hoped that we now know, more than
ever, that our way of life must be actively nurtured by every one
of us in any way that as individuals, we can.
We should also hope that you young people especially, now have a greater
appreciation for the opportunities which are available to us in this country.
And that you therefore have a stronger incentive to make the most of
them.
Perhaps the events of Sept. 11 shook us out of our complacency. If so,
that can serve you well in the classroom and in your life.
We need to be prepared for the uncertainties of the future. You are here
to develop all the strengths and skills that will help you do that. As the
military and the uniformed services are ready to defend us with weapons,
so you should be ready to defend our way of life with your knowledge, determination
and resolution to improve yourself and thus make your valuable contribution
to our country.
We lost an awful lot of bright young people on Sept. 11. We're counting
on you to take their place in our communities, in our corporations, in our
churches and schools. You truly are the hope of the future.
At any other time everything I have said would be merely clichés.
But not today. These "platitudes" have regained an immediacy and
a meaning that we had not felt in our "peaceful status quo."
Yes, we're counting on you. So get into those classrooms and show us
the stuff you're made of!
Thank you.
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