Thomas Scofield, a faculty member of the professional counseling department at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s College of Education and Human Services, offered the following midyear commencement address:

“I am grateful and honored to have been asked to address this assembly and the graduating class of the 2018 midyear commencement. To say that I am honored is not simply an empty platitude, because I know, beyond anyone present, that I am the least likely of all individuals to find themselves standing in front of you this morning. Trust me, I know my personal history.

“It is said, ‘The journey, not the arrival, matters.’  There is for each of us, a life’s meandering, directed by intersecting paths that bring us here this morning. There is no other situation, unfolding circumstance or place for us to be other than where we find ourselves at this very moment. Life’s trajectory, however, is not arrogantly our own, but belongs to something larger than ourselves. No one comes to know of themselves or their achievements in isolation, but through the relationships they establish with others. Thus, no one has arrived here today through isolated agency or individual merit alone.

“A lot of today’s focus is placed upon your academic achievement. That is how it should be. You have accomplished something that places you in a very unique group of individuals. Your degree, however, is not for you, though you have rightly earned it! It is for those for whom you will ultimately provide service, some that have not yet been born into the world.

“Apart from your academics, it is not enough to have earned a degree. Your life’s work must be offered through something that tempers and shapes the world and those around you. In my brief address to you this morning, I would propose the shepherding qualities of goodness, innocence and loveliness as agents of that effort.

“Now in my profession I have come to know a great deal about goodness, innocence and loveliness. I deal with the lack of them on a daily basis. I see firsthand the psychological injury, personal negation and wounding caused when these qualities have been withheld or are completely absent.

“But I am not talking about a ‘goodness’ that connotes ‘being good.’ Not a ‘good’ that promotes a subjugation of one’s self, in fear of another’s reprisal. No, I am speaking of the power of goodness that is motivated by kindness toward others. Being for others out of the goodness and kindness of heart. And, how would we know this power exists at all? Because, as life subsequently and eventually unfolds around us, we need at times to be reminded in our humanity that,

“‘Our individual and collective goodness’ is always at its best, when things are at their worst. Thus, goodness exists within us always, and can manifest itself wherever and whenever we determine it should be expressed; and, we should accept the admonition that we do not always need to be prompted by a particular state of affairs to demonstrate its significance and restorative influence.

“The second quality I wish to address is innocence.

“Throughout your journey to this place this morning I am sure most of you have been cognizant of diminishing, and unsympathetic individuals, just as you have been gratefully aware of those who treated your innocence with kindness. Those who chose to offer guidance through their mentoring and projection of hope and belief, enabling you to move beyond your self-limiting frames of reference.

“It is an innocence that springs from the humility of saying one is unsure as well as coming from an instinctive wisdom to seek benevolent guidance when one remains so. A resonant declaration that summons those who assist in the development of autonomy through their beneficence and fidelity.

“A resounding voice that measures a deep hurt and contempt for those who shame, ridicule, embarrass or worse yet, in time of genuine need, provide no guidance.

“It is an innocence that knows that life and the many people in it are not always fair.

“In an anonymous writing, that I received from a friend some time ago this concept of fairness is simply stated: ‘Robins eat worms. That’s not fair to worms.’ It goes on to remark that, ‘The world and the people in it go on being unfair every day.’ ‘You can choose to be happy or unhappy, but it has nothing to do with the lack of justice you see around you.’

“Even so, even in times where fairness is absent, where inequities profit–you can choose to make a difference, you can choose to be for others rather than for self alone, you can choose to speak truth to power, give voice to solidarity by saying ‘MeToo’, rather than elevate or maintain the Machiavellian entitlement of silence. You can do what you alone can do, as you join like-minded others to do it!

“Your willingness to become involved with the distressing conditions of another human being immediately dignifies their experience as if to say, ‘You are not alone, you are worthy of my attention and you matter.’ It is a safeguard–a psychological shelter of sorts that shields others from undesirable influences that taint and color personal perception and self-image. After all, that’s what innocence is, being untainted.

“Lastly, I turn to loveliness.

“Not the false external societal judgement of whether one is or one is not, but that of a qualified innate truth. I’m talking about a loveliness in the spirit of ‘being.’

“A distinctive attractiveness, born of those summoned to search for and establish their personal truths. A loveliness that continually evolves into a life-long attraction toward creative projects that both stretch the sense of self, while promoting the never-ending cycle of growth.

“Take a moment and look around you, go ahead look, do you see it?–this loveliness– radiance reflected back from the faces of those who affirm and validate you this morning. Their pride palpable, their aspirational hopes, and beliefs beaming. No one in this place who has listening eyes can deny its splendor.

“You know I have heard it said that angels are suspended just above the place where miracles occur. Okay, I really didn’t hear that. I made it up!

“Yet it seems fitting for this assembly this morning; in this most difficult of times, where now, more than any time ever before, we are all beckoned to draw upon deeper virtues, if we are to effect real and meaningful change in our relationships, our life’s work as well as the social fabric, and commerce of the world.

“And what of angels and miracles?

“Me, yeah, I’m a believer.

“I know it is through shear stamina and great personal sacrifice that this day has arrived. You have been sustained in effort through persistence, tenacity, determination, and above all through the caring and loving support of others.

“I will share with you that it is no less a miracle that I too should find myself offering my thoughts, through humbled disposition this very moment.

“Although I ungrudgingly qualify that statement, by informing you that I am able to do so not without the unwavering love and support from one such angel, my wife. In all that I have done, in all that I will ever achieve, the greatest thing that will have ever happened to me in my life is that I will have met her.

“You may recall that when I first began my address that I talked about, ‘How our life’s trajectory is not arrogantly our own, but belongs to something larger then ourselves’; ‘That no one comes to know of themselves or their achievements in isolation, but through the relationships they establish with others’; That, ‘no one has arrived here today through isolated agency and personal merit alone’; I had stated, I was the least likely of individuals to be standing in front of you, yet I did not provide a context for that concluding remark.

“You see my journey has led me from uncharacteristic paths for someone of my current position and status, having flunked out of high school, having been asked to leave the university I was attending . My GPA at the time a measly 1.72, that after a failed six-year plan, having been charged with two counts of grand theft before the age of 16, standing before the judge three times and doing jail time twice, once for felony eluding – doing a 100 miles an hour and better trying to out run the cops in my 1965 Ford Custom. So perhaps you can now readily appreciate that I always had some sense that I would be institutionalized, I just didn’t know it would be higher education.

“It is always someone else’s belief, beyond our own, filtered through their goodness, innocence, and loveliness, that helps change us from who we are, to who we ultimately become. I hope as all of you continue your journeys and life’s work that you come to realize and accept that you too hold the power to be that other person’s someone, that someone who changes who they ultimately become.

“I am grateful that I should be afforded the unique opportunity to have you dignify my journey and arrival to this place at the podium by your presence and patience. I hope only that you have felt dignified by my presence and remarks to you this morning.

“Those whom you love, and who love you, are here both physically and in spirit to witness your ascension.

“To watch you soar to heights of your own choosing, hopefully never so far as to be outside their caring and loving reach.

“It is befitting that angels are elevated and suspended above us. It is within their nature and character to be so, just above the place where miracles occur.

“And now, I have but three parting requests for this graduating class: would you please close your eyes, let your spirits be gently uplifted, and reflect and hold upon this singular moment, as you listen to the sound of your wings from the love and pride that surrounds you.”