WEBVTT

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applause, then music

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No matter what we choose, I think we all have been truly lucky to have spent time at Western Oregon University.

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Some of us may have only been here for a brief period

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and others may have been here for what feels like forever.

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But no matter the length, I'm sure the time we have spent at Western Oregon University

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has helped to better prepare us for success in whichever path we have decided to pursue after this.

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music

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I could not be more proud of all we've accomplished and all that we are yet to do.

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Class of 2017 we did it!  

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applause and cheers

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music

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So my hope for all of us today; the graduates, the teachers, the staff and friends and family and visitors

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is that we leave here and remember that

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the value of an education comes in part from reminding ourselves

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that we value learning.  We value education, 

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Thank your for celebrating that here with me today and congratulations fellow graduates. 

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applause

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music

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Be open to critique.  Be dedicated to listening actively and modeling a willingness to be changed

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by the presence of others to the same extent they are necessarily changed by you.

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And finally, don't wait for the hero. 

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Be the action.  Notice what's going right and do more of it.

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music

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music and cheers