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Chris Prosser Starts Student Address with Woflpack Cheer

Chris Prosser was selected to deliver the student body commencement remarks at the college’s commencement ceremony held Dec. 15 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Following is a transcript of his remarks.

Good afternoon, graduates, faculty and staff parents, family and friends. This might be a little unconventional, but realizing that this may be the last time I ever get to do this as a student made me want to take advantage f this moment. So, if you wouldn’t mind following along … (and he led a Wolfpack cheer, followed by the other graduates).

That is awesome! That is one of the reasons I love this university. I did not grow up in North Carolina, so I have not been a State fan all of my life, but when I attended my first college football game on September 20, 2008, in a game against 15th ranked ECU on ESPN and we beat them in overtime, I immediately fell in love with college football and Wolfpack football. The atmosphere of 60,000 NC State fans changing Wolf-Pack back and forth at Carter-Finley during that entire game, and especially in overtime, is something that I will never forget and that is why I wanted to lead my speech with our Wolfpack chant. Thank you.

p. Well, congratulations, graduates. You made it. You have graduated from college. You should all be very proud of yourselves for the amount of hard work and dedication it took to get here. Each and every one of you has grown as a person and has learned valuable life lessons that you will take with you into the future, like time management and professionalism or how to complete an all nighter because you had two papers due and an exam the next day, or how to run two miles, eat a dozen doughnuts, and run 2 mines back without getting sick in the Krispy Kreme Challenge.

I would also like to congratulate the families and friends of the graduates. You all have helped make a difference in our lives. You all have provided us with a great deal of support over the years so not only do I congratulate you, but I would also like to thank you. We would not e here without you.
And speaking of people that we may not be here without, I would like to thank all of the faculty and staff here in the Poole College of Management on behalf of this graduating class. We have learned so much from all of you; we truly appreciate all the time you have dedicated t us, and we thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Wherever life may take you, make sure you don’t ever forget what North Carolina State University, the Poole College of Management, and all these people around you have done for you. Be an ambassador and let everyone know that you are successful because you attended North Carolina State University and took classes in the Poole College of Management. Show your appreciation of what this fine institution and this outstanding college have helped you to accomplish.

Each and every one f you is going to face adversity for the rest of your lives, just like you have been for the last 20 plus years. Adversity is what makes life interesting. It’s what makes life a roller coaster. It is how you react to this adversity that defines what kind of a person you are. For me, it was adjusting to new places and new people every couple of years until I attended high school because my parents had opportunities to work in a variety of places. For you, it may have been more serious in nature, but for all of us, it was something personal. You learn and grow during those times and develop unique skills that benefit you every day. You are here, right now, for a reason, and that is because you didn’t give up when you faced adversity.

I want to share with you two pieces of advice that I have retained during my life. One I have carried with me for a long them; the other I just picked up this semester.

There is a quote from J.R.R. Tolkein that I put in my high school yearbook five years ago, and it provides a simple outlook on life. The quote is, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” What I have gathered form Tolkein’s quote is that you shouldn’t live in the past or future too much. Take advantage of the time you have been given right now and don’t take anything for granted. Before you know it, that time may be up.

This leads me t my second piece of advice. I attended a company info session back in October and one of the representatives shared this with us. He asked us: “What are you good at? … and What do you like?” He said the answers to those questions will drive you for the rest of your life.
He made the point that you should do something that you will enjoy and that will get you out of the bed in the morning. I would like to add to that. Please go on and do something with your life that you are passionate about. If you are passionate about it, it will drive you to be successful. It will make you happy. It will make your life easier. It will make you want to get out of bed each and every morning.

Fellow graduates, I am going to leave you with something I am sure you all have hard before, if you are at all familiar with our university’s history This is something that will help you overcome this adversity. This is something my parents have taught me since Day One. Lara and Dallas, listen up, this is for you, too. Jim Valvano once said, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” If you live by what Coach Valvano said, and make sure you fit in your daily laughing, thinking and crying, you can’t ever be disappointed in the results.

Thank you and congratulations again, Class of 2012! Go Wolfpack!