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Dietz gives students advice, goals

The last Convocation Ceremony of the Millennium was held in Founders Auditorium last Friday when Dr. Janis Dietz, associate professor of business administration, delivered her appropriately titled speech, "Choices for the New Millennium" to a full house. Her speech emphasized the importance of a liberal arts education in a successful life and career. / photo by Erica Paal
The last Convocation Ceremony of the Millennium was held in Founders Auditorium last Friday when Dr. Janis Dietz, associate professor of business administration, delivered her appropriately titled speech, “Choices for the New Millennium” to a full house. Her speech emphasized the importance of a liberal arts education in a successful life and career. / photo by Erica Paal

by Jazmine Ponce
Staff Writer

The annual fall Convocation featured a motivational speech by Associate Professor of Business Administration Dr. Janis Dietz.

The speech, entitled “Choices for a new Millennium,” did not focus on the Y2K scare, but on the choices and goals people make in their lives.

College being the stepping stone for one’s future, Dr. Dietz relayed her experiences, advice and goals to demonstrate to students how important choices are in life.

“For students it is important for them to look at the consequences of their choices. Sometimes that’s not what happens and I wanted to make that a point,” she said. “I wanted to put in this convocation what is important to students; their relationships, and love and goal setting, things that I found important to me over the last 25 years.”

Rather than talk about the differences to come in the new millennium, Dr. Dietz believes it is “the choices you make today that will determine the results tomorrow.”

Throughout her speech she quoted great leaders, told stories of encouragement and gave words of advice, all which related back to the value of choices.

“The way you make your choices, whether for your education, your career, or your circle of friends has already begun to affect your future” said Dr. Dietz.

She also quoted from one of her heroes, Barbara Jordan, one of the first African-American women elected to Congress in the south.

“Life is full of of challenges, and we often measure ourselves and our success in life by how we meet those challenges. Challenge validates our life and can often disturb the order of our lives.”

Along with goal setting and striving to succeed, Dr. Dietz advised to “making your choices because you believe in something will make the next millennium better. Please choose something you are passionate about, chasing money will not make you happy.”

She also believes one of the many important things in a person’s life are relationships, because relationships are what life is built around.

“Relationships: they are what will make the difference in your life, cherish those relationships, cherish what you learn about getting along with people, what you learn about other people and cherish the activities that provide you with those relationships, they will create more choices for the next millennium,” Dr. Dietz said.

She also shared a story that shows the importance of making a difference. A man is walking along the beach and sees a little boy throwing starfish back into the ocean. The man approaches the boy to ask him why he is doing this because it does not make a difference, there are thousands of starfish. The boy throws another starfish back into the ocean, turns to the man and says, “It does to this one.”

To end her speech she chose a quote from the English statesman Winston Churchill.

“Never give in; never give in, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

Dr. Dietz encouraged every student to remember Churchill’s tenacity, for in every setback he believed there was a seat of triumph, she said.

Jazmine Ponce
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Erica Paal
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