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Convocation maps life’s road

Those who attended spring convocation Tuesday afternoon listened to Elena Cardeña, Catholic campus minister, deliver a speech entitled “No Longer Stuck in Second Gear,” inspired by “I’ll be There for You,” a popular song performed by the Rembrandts, one of Cardeña’s favorite groups. / photo by Brian Murphy
Those who attended spring convocation Tuesday afternoon listened to Elena Cardeña, Catholic campus minister, deliver a speech entitled “No Longer Stuck in Second Gear,” inspired by “I’ll be There for You,” a popular song performed by the Rembrandts, one of Cardeña’s favorite groups. / photo by Brian Murphy

by Andrea Gardner
Editorial Assistant

Comparing life experience with shifting her Saturn, Elena Cardeña gave the spring Convocation lecture entitled “No Longer Stuck in Second Gear” in Founders Auditorium on Feb. 20.

The Convocation began with a brief introduction by Associated Student Federation President Rich Quesada.

Explaining how she chose the theme of her speech, Cardeña described listening to the radio, and hearing the popular song by the Rembrandts, where the lyrics read, “It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear.” It was then that Cardeña decided to expand on the phrase and developed the spring Convocation speech.

“We know what it feels like to be stuck in second gear,” she said. “When the road narrows, roughens and steepens, you must go into second gear; driving in second gear takes a lot of time, just like in life. The road roughens and we must slow down.”

Cardeña included three points to help deal with being in second gear, the first being, “I may be stuck in second gear but at least I’m not spinning my wheels.”

“Second gear is frustrating, but we must remember that we are still making progress,” she said.

Cardeña recounted her own personal experience of writing a term paper for her masters degree and having it returned to her with the words “do it over.”

“Everyday I am one day closer to achieving my goal,” said Cardeña, who told the audience, “Don’t let the bigness overwhelm you.”

Her second point was “I may be stuck in second gear, but at least I have the right road map,” stressing the importance of being ruled by the compass rather than the clock.

Cardeña asked listeners, “Do you know where your life is going or do you know what time it is? If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you get there?”

The third point of the speech was, “I may be stuck in second gear, but at least I am in good company.”

Cardeña advised the audience to surround themselves with people who are good companions.

“The harder the road, the more we have to take care of each other.”

After her three points, she further explained the importance of keeping life in perspective when stuck in second gear, and to remember to enjoy it.

“We live in a microwave society; The world moves so fast. We must go twice as fast.”

She also advised students to “create what it will be like when you achieve your goal,” telling them that one of her dreams was giving an address while wearing navy blue pumps, then pausing to show the audience the blue heels she wore on her feet.

Speaking on the power of negativity and courage, she said,“The older I get, the more I realize that courage, determination, endurance and perseverance are all the same.”

Cardeña concluded her speech with an explanation of how to get out of second gear, telling students to push the motor out and just do it, adding,“if you can’t find it, grind it.”

She also stressed the importance of realizing the do-or-die moment, the point of having the faith to take a leap.

Cardeña closed her speech with words she opened with earlier, “When stuck in second gear, remember, it’s not all that bad. It could be raining.”

Andrea Gardner, Managing Editor
Andrea Gardner
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