Longwood College Commencement Address

President Cormier, distinguished members of the faculty, graduates, families and friends. It is a great pleasure and an honor for me to be with you on this happy and important occasion, and when I say it's a pleasure, I truly mean it. Most often when I'm invited to speak in public, I am asked to share my views on the economy and especially the near-term outlook for the economy. In other words, my hosts want an economic forecast, believing mistakenly that I have a clearer crystal ball than others. I'm very glad you haven't asked me for predictions, because the future I'd like to discuss today is yours. I said it was an honor to be here. Let me tell you why. I know the scope of Longwood's programs has expanded greatly in recent years, but when I was growing up in Richmond your school was known especially for training excellent teachers. In fact, many of my high school teachers were Longwood graduates, and they were good! And they were demanding! They made our courses in literature and history and mathematics come alive, and they inspired in me a lifelong love of learning and a healthy curiosity about the world and the way it works. Being asked to speak at the commencement of the college that produced these wonderful teachers honors me more than I can tell you.