Business professor tells graduates to 'PLA'
Dr. Timothy Anderson, Chadron State College professor of business, told the institution’s master’s degree graduates Friday to make good choices as they put their newly awarded degrees to good use.
Anderson, a CSC graduate who has been a member of the business faculty since 1977, delivered the commencement address for the graduate ceremony, the first of the day’s two commencement exercises.
“Everything in life is a choice, absolutely everything,” he said. “Understand that the state of affairs in which we live domestically, nationally and internationally are a direct result of our individual and collective choices, for better or worse.”
In order to make sound choices, he told the graduates to live a life of “PLA” – an acronym pronounced “play,” which stands for principle, learning and action.
Anderson told the graduates to internalize and practice the fundamental attributes and principles that transcend cultures, so that they not be tempted to compromise. He said the principles of respect, honesty, loyalty, kindness, integrity, service and fairness guide the consequences of people’s choices.
He said people should seek wisdom by choosing to be a life-long learner, not necessarily in the form of formal education and advanced degrees. Rather, he said, one just should be curious.
“Each day, take time to expand your knowledge,” he said. “There are many ways as the day unfolds.”
To live a life of action, Anderson said people should be disciplined and persistent. He said discipline has become a hated term, but without it, the graduates would not have obtained their degrees. Consistent persistence, he said, will yield positive results of one’s choices.
“With discipline and determination, I encourage you to choose to put into action the knowledge you’ve acquired to make a positive difference in the lives of others,” he said. “Choose to use your knowledge and wisdom to give back to your family, your community. Choose to be proactive, productive employee that adds value to the workplace and your profession.”
Anderson told the graduates that he knows of one wise choice they’ve already made.
“You, the graduating class of 2011, made a wise choice in spending in the neighborhood of 18-20 years of your life in the pursuit of completing your respective degree programs,” he said.
Friday marked the first time CSC has had separate ceremonies for graduate and undergraduate degree candidates in the winter. In recent years, the institution had one ceremony for both master’s and bachelor’s degree candidates in the winter, and separate events for spring commencement.
This winter’s 62 master’s degree candidates represented exactly double the 31 of five years ago.
Category: Campus News