SolBridge News
Dean Rose’s Message to the Class of 2018; SolBridge Commencement Ceremony Spring 2018
"Chairman Kim, President Endicott, distinguished
colleagues from Woosong University, and our distinguished faculty. Thank you
all for being here. This is a wonderful day for all of us but most especially
our graduating students.
This day marks a turning point. All of us make a
difference through our stories. Those of you who have been in my office lately
interviewing for internships at SolBridge and Woosong know my first question to
you; Tell me your story! What is your story? Until now, many of you had a story
that has been written by others. This first chapter coming to a conclusion
today was maybe a result of choices made by your parents, your teachers, or
even your friends. Now is the time to write your own story.
As you know, a good story has three parts. The first
part is the theme. A meaning. A purpose. Where are you going? Now as you think
about your story, I am not talking about your job; not that you want to be a
marketing manager and not that you want to marry the right person. I am talking
about the meaning of your life. Why are you living? What do you hope to
accomplish? So the first thing is the purpose and the theme, and maybe it's
going to be an adventure, maybe a mystery or you hope it'll be a romance. It
can be all of those things. You can have many stories.
The second part of the story is one we don't often
talk about. Every great story has challenges and obstacles to overcome. Forces
working against you accomplishing your purpose in life. The great stories are stories
of you overcoming those challenges. Challenges that you really don't know yet.
Challenges brought about by the 4th industrial revolution and the rapid change
in technology.
The third and most important part of the story is the
hero. And you, my friends, are the hero of your own stories. What is the hero?
A hero is a person of courage, of exceptional qualities. A person who can
overcome those challenges and achieve their goals. You, friends, distinguished
colleagues, you are heroes. The heroes of your own story. Isabel Allende said:
"We are our own storytellers". If that's the case, let's make our
story a legend. Let's make it a bestseller.
Lastly, you know stories are not written in ink, they
are written in chalk, so they can be changed. You write your story by the
choices that you make. Those choices were determined by your imagination
because there is no limit to the opportunities available to you. We, at
SolBridge, are so proud of you, of what you have accomplished. And we know that
you are going to write those Nobel prize-winning, heroic stories of great
success. Wishing you all the very best today for your graduation, as you write
those stories."