Ottawa, Wednesday, September 7, 2011
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I would like to welcome all of you to Carleton University.
It is so satisfying to see a room full of young minds, ready to take the plunge into a new and exciting world.
In fact, I myself was so enamoured with university life that I almost never left; as a student, then a teacher, then an administrator, I spent most of my life and career in universities. I was 69-and-a-half years old when I was asked to step outside the school and join the public service as governor general of Canada. That is not to say that you will choose to make university your way of life, but it is certainly a place of great opportunity.
And what a school you have chosen!
For nearly 70 years, Carleton University has stood as a great centre of learning and innovation. Its alumni have spread out across the country and the world, lending their skills to business, art, science and public service—Carleton alumni even contribute to the governor general’s office each and every day! No matter where they are, though, all graduates utilize what they learn here to benefit so many.
Only after you leave Carleton will you be able to look back and see how this current journey of self-discovery will help define the person you will become. I hope that you can appreciate your time here and look to the near future as one with limitless possibilities.
I have always urged people to cherish their teachers, because they have so much knowledge to impart. It is their job to challenge you and to enhance your understanding of the universe; in turn, it is your job to participate in your classes, and to allow yourselves the thrill of discovering new and innovative ideas. After all, as the saying goes, minds, like parachutes, work best when open.
Learning—one of the pillars of my mandate as governor general—is about both the pursuit of education and the interest in furthering your own personal knowledge. As a result, you are able to make a significant impact on your community.
But as important as your classes are, I want you to know that learning also takes place beyond the classroom, as well as beyond borders.
As inviting as Carleton’s tunnels are during the cold winter months, poke your head out occasionally to explore the campus and the city, because learning happens all around us. Get involved in clubs, sports and student politics; challenge yourselves to contribute a lasting legacy to the school.
Carleton also offers some wonderful opportunities to study abroad. I urge all of you who can to set out to discover new ways of thinking in an entirely different environment.
Universities open the world to their students, connecting them to a global community. You will be surprised how valuable these studies can be.
After all, the university experience, at its core, is about evolution: how can we be better students, better teachers, and better citizens?
In 2017, Canada will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the same year that Carleton will mark its 75th anniversary. These milestones are perfect opportunities to ask ourselves to define the country we want, to chart a course of how we can get there, and to give thanks for what we hold dear.
So I ask you today, as you begin your studies at Carleton University, to be mindful of what is important.
As a university president for many years I used to tell new students the following story.
A philosophy professor stood before his class with a number of items in front of him: a large empty jar, some rocks, a box of pebbles, a box of sand and a can of Coke. When class began, he picked up the empty jar and proceeded to fill it with the rocks. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up the box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. Again, they agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up the box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up whatever space was left in the jar.
The demonstration, he explained, was like life. The rocks are the important things—family, your partner, your health, your children, and, yes, even your education—anything that was so important to you that if it were lost, you would be devastated. The pebbles are the other things that matter, like a house or car. The sand is everything else, the little things in life.
If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. There will always be time for the little things. Take care of the rocks first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.
There was one last item on the professor’s desk. One brave student asked, “And what about the can of Coke?”
The professor smiled and answered, “Never forget to share a cool drink with a friend.”
It is you, the students of today, who will have a monumental impact on our future. Our country’s greatest resources include the generosity, creativity and ingenuity of our people. For generations, Canadians have been making world-changing discoveries and giving freely of themselves to benefit others, thus affecting the world around us. And now it is your turn to leave your mark on Canada, to enact change and to build a country of which we can continue to be proud.
Whatever you study, and wherever Carleton takes you, I cannot wait to see how you will create a smarter, more caring nation, where we can all work together for a common good.
I will close by sharing three pieces of advice that you can follow to accomplish any goal you may have:
Learn. I cannot stress enough that learning happens over a lifetime, and that we must pursue knowledge whenever and wherever we can.
Volunteer. Discover your communities and help out those in need; you will not be disappointed with the results.
Innovate. Think and dream big, because Canada’s future will depend on how well we conceive and implement new ideas, concepts and technologies.
We live in changing times, and you stand at the precipice of a new Canada, one that will build on our storied past to propel us into a bright future.
I wish all of you the very best in your studies, now and in the years to come.
Thank you.
