Coming This Spring to Your College

Host of Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN, Editor-at-Large at TIME, and a regular columnist for The Washington Post, Fareed Zakaria is widely respected for his ability to spot economic and political trends around the world. Esquire magazine described him as "the most influential foreign policy adviser of his generation."
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Midland College, and the Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series present
Dr. Fareed Zakaria
Foreign policy adviser, columnist and television host
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
7:00 p.m.
Al G. Langford Chaparral Center

Admission is FREE, but tickets are required for entry. Tickets will become available later, as the event draws closer. __________

His columns and cover stories — on subjects ranging from globalization and emerging markets to the Middle East and America's role in the world — reach millions of readers weekly. Before joining TIME, Dr. Zakaria was editor of Newsweek International, overseeing all of the magazine's editions abroad from 2000 - 2010. His weekly international news program, Fareed Zakaria GPS, airs worldwide and has become a destination for viewers seeking smart analysis and civil conversation about the big ideas and global challenges of our time.

His international bestseller, The Post-American World, is about the "rise of the rest" — the growth of China, India, Brazil and many other countries — and what it means for the future. "Zakaria ... may have more intellectual range and insights than any other public thinker in the West," said the Boston Sunday Globe. In a fully revised and updated edition, The Post-American World: Release 2.0 (May 2011), Zakaria reviews the shifts of power he originally identified, marvels at how quickly they have occurred, and discusses the vast political and economic implications. His previous New York Times bestseller, The Future of Freedom, has been translated into 20 languages and was called "a work of tremendous originality and insight" by The Washington Post.

Born in India and educated at Yale and Harvard, Zakaria has served as an analyst for ABC News, a roundtable member on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, and host of Foreign Exchange on PBS. At age 28, he became the youngest managing editor in the history of Foreign Affairs.

One of Jon Stewart's favorite guests on The Daily Show, Zakaria has appeared on Charlie Rose, The NewsHour and BBC World News and has written for such publications as The New Yorker and The New York Times. His numerous honors include the Overseas Press Club Award and the Deadline Club Award for Best Columnist.
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In May 1996, Steve Davidson and Susan Davidson McClenahan of the Davidson Family Charitable Foundation announced the endowment of the Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series.Twice a year, the Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series, Midland College Foundation, Friends of the Series and Bank of America present speakers whose civic leadership, academic accomplishments and/or public achievements interest, enrich, and enlighten Midland students and citizens.

"Remember Midland College, and all of the opportunities it gave you"

By Susanna Karth, Commencement Student Speaker

Midland College 38th Commencement

Friday, May, 13, 2011

Fellow graduates, faculty, and guests,

The theme of this speech is supposed to be what Midland College means to me. Well, we'd probably be here all night if I talked about that. MC has been such a part of my life. It wasn't long after my family moved to Midland in 2007 that I started taking classes here. Since then, so many people here, students, faculty, staff, have touched my life in so many ways; I couldn't even begin to name all of them.

What I really want to share with you tonight are some of the lessons I've learned in my time at MC. These are lessons I learned outside of the classroom, although I did learn a lot in class as well.

The first lesson was to keep going. Life is tough. I'm sure we've all had those days where we stumbled home after a long day with class in the morning and work in the afternoon and then stayed up all night studying for that test at 8:00 the next morning. I've been told it only gets tougher from here.

Life, or fate, or whatever you want to call it has thrown me a few curveballs which made my life even tougher. The most devastating of which was when I was diagnosed with CMT. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome is a muscular neuropathy. It affects my feet, hands, legs, even my breathing. I have to deal with poor circulation, numbness, and extreme temperature changes make me feel literally ill. My body is so easily fatigued some days I can barely stay awake. The way my hands are shaking right now is only partly from nerves. It might have been easier if CMT was a disease everyone knew about. Hardly anybody knows what CMT is. Most people think it just stands for Country Music Television. Well, that's not the only thing it stands for. But I am not going to let it stop me.

I hate sob stories in speeches because they are way overused, so I hope that didn't sound too much like one. Anyway, the point is: what devastates you? Is there something in your life that hampering you from achieving your full potential? Maybe you're a single parent trying to raise a family, get an education and work all at the same time. Maybe you or a loved one is struggling with a disease or disability. Or maybe you have an awful roommate who drives you crazy and keeps you up half the night. No matter what it is, I challenge you to keep going. Do not let it conquer you. Be like Dory in Finding Nemo. “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.” When you're stuck in a whale and feel like you're drowning from stress, stop, take a deep breath, and then move forward. Don't give up; don't give in; keep going.

 And as you keep going with your life, whether it's school, or work, or family, make sure you're going in the right direction. There's no point in moving forward if you're on the wrong side of the road. Find something fulfilling that you can pour your heart into. Something that will give you a purpose and direction. I was involved in more than one group here because each group was a different part of me. Drama club appealed to my creative side. I was able to release tension as I acted out different roles. Students in Philanthropy was my giving side. I wanted to help people, and giving away money was a great way to do it. Student government trained me for leadership. I wanted to make a difference, and I still do. These groups gave me a purpose outside of my academic endeavors and I think some days kept me from going insane in reaction to all my schoolwork. So, I challenge to find a group that can do the same for you. Whether it's a church group, or a club on campus, or a form of community outreach, or something else entirely, get involved. All work and no play will just discourage you. Find a balance. If you're doing something fulfilling, then I guarantee you no matter how much work it is it will feel like you're not working at all.

Second, don't go through life alone. No one can do everything by himself/herself. Even the Lone Ranger has Tonto.

During my time at Midland College, I have been blessed to achieve multiple academic endeavors.  However, I never would have earned all those awards by myself. It is because I was involved in so many things and interacted with so many people that I was qualified to earn those awards. It wasn't easy though.

There was a point in my life last semester where I was this close to giving up. It was one of those times when every class had something due, SIP was fund raising, the SGA convention was coming up, and, on top of all that, I had a bad cold. Again. Every cold germ always seems to find me. One day I just had enough and started crying my eyes out. I was so overwhelmed. And then a very wise lady told me that I didn't have to do it all. I had told myself that many times, but when someone else told me, it made all the difference. It finally sunk in. I don't have to do it all. And neither do you.

Yes, we should all try to make a difference. And yes, we should all try to succeed. But we don't have to do everything. Surround yourself with friends who will take care of you. Not just people who will follow you, but people who will argue with you if you are wrong; people who will work alongside you to achieve a goal; people who will watch your back; and you will do the same for them. I have many friends who have been there for me. So many in fact that it is very hard for me to mention only a few. There's my SIP friends, Susy and Amanda and Nancy and JR and Hilary and Matt and Jasmine and Kristen and oh, everybody else. They would all ask me “how's life?” and they would really want to know. And of course I'll never forget my friends in SGA: Aide and Malina and E.C. and Andre and Karla and Moriah and Dauvy and Carl and LaMark and Jeff and Vanessa and Joe; and that's only a few. They always stood by me. Always. And none of them were ever afraid to point out if everything wasn't the way it should be. It's hard to go wrong with friends like that.

These are the things Midland College has taught me, and they'll stay with me for the rest of my life. As you, the class of 2011, move forward with your lives, whether it's to a university, a job, or a family, I hope you'll remember these things as well. Remember to keep going no matter what as long as you're headed the right direction. Remember to never try to live your life alone, because no one can do everything. And remember Midland College, and all of the opportunities it gave you. Thank you.

Land of Hope and Glory

In less than a month, we will observe the birthday of Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO and Master of the King's Musick, who was born June 2, 1857. I rather like how it happens that his birthday coincides with that time of year when one of his works, Pomp and Circumstance March #1 ("Land of Hope and Glory") has been heard so much, in so many places.

It is that time of year when we are living in a land of hope and glory, as we turn out in enthusiastic droves to honor young people (of ALL ages) as they cross the stage, accept their diploma and handshake, shift the tassle of their mortarboard from one side to the other, and take the next big step in their life.

I know, I know ... some of you will find this just another occasion for still another rant about what a terrible state we're in. You'll find some data somewhere about some aspect of society at-large ... something that places a moment such as school commencement in your preferred context. And you'll find someone - the President or the Congress, the liberals or the conservatives, the comet people from the outer nebulae, whatever - to blame for the sorry state of affairs that defines your world.

To me, all of that seems to follow Screwtape's formula for re-defining our reality by attacking our intellect and emotions, advising Wormwood to direct his client's perceptions, so the client will accept "the sight of human entrails as a revelation of Reality and his emotion at the sight of happy children or fair weather as mere Sentiment."

Me? I remain a sentimental fool, I guess. For me, it IS a time, and we ARE a nation of hope and glory. I'm not saying I can be totally objective here ... I am, after all, a staffer at a community college in West Texas. And while those kids that will be crossing the stage at Friday's commencement ARE other people's kids ... they are also, at least in a sense, mine as well. I feel pride in their achievement, and I'm thrilled to have played a part - albeit, a VERY SMALL part - in that achievement.

I have hope!

So, how'd it go this morning, with the rally and all?

Actually, organizers were thrilled with the turnout for today's rally, showing support for Midland college, and higher education in Texas ... and warning of the consequences of severe funding cuts for schools, now being considered by the Texas Legislature. See for yourself on the Midland College Facebook page, where I've posted an album of photos I took during the rally.

YOUR College, YOUR Community ... the view from the front lines

In a demonstration of support for Midland College and to show the importance of the repercussions of the 82nd Legislative Session’s impact on higher education, MC faculty, staff and students will rally on the steps of the Murray Fasken Learning Resource Center (FLRC) at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4. The current Texas House and Senate bills will result in a reduction for MC between $5.4 million and $7 million for the 2011-2013 biennium.

From Michael Dixon, Professor of Mathematics, and MC Faculty Senate President-Elect ... "I just wanted to encourage everyone to attend the Rally being sponsored by the Midland College Faculty Senate [today] from 10:30AM to 11:30AM. The purpose of the rally is to express our concern about the budget cuts that Midland College is facing for the next biennium. The more people that attend the better. We are facing a huge crisis and the only possible way we can get through it, is together. Moreover, we want to send a message to Austin that we are not quietly accepting these or future cuts without a fight."

From Damon Kennedy, Associate Professor of History and MC Faculty Senate President, states, “I would like to make a personal appeal for you to attend the rally, which will be 10:30-11:30 on Wednesday, 04 May, 2011, in front of the LRC. The timing is not perfect - I know. But the window of opportunity is narrow, so it is now or never. As the new Faculty Senate President, I am learning a number of important and sometimes alarming things. Support the efforts of Dr. Thomas and many other people and organizations who work diligently on our behalf.”

So, how'd it go last night, with the ballet and all?

Very, VERY well, actually. See for yourself on the Midland College Facebook page, where I've posted an album of photos taken by MC Media Director J. Don Wallace.