Student Commencement Speaker Adds New Layer of Meaning to the “PACK “

Presenting the Student Commencement address at the May 2013 Poole College Commencement Ceremony was Katherine Anne Glanton, from Waxhaw, N.S. Glanton received her bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in human resources and a minor in Spanish.

In her address, Glanton spoke of the mottos that are part of the culture at NC State University. “One of our mottos here at NC State is “For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack,” she said.

Prospective students visiting NC State during Make a Date events hear about Wolf PAWS, with the PAWS standing for professionalism, academics, work experience, and study abroad. Incoming Poole College students learn about the 3 I’s at new student orientation: involvement, internship, and international.

Glaton added ‘PACK’ to the collection of mnemonics, with the following explanation.

• P – Passion. Last August, my strategic staffing class discussed at length the importance of having a passion for our professional career and throughout our lives. Some of our passions included consulting, health care, entrepreneurship, craft beer, and some of us were still deciding what that passion was, but we wanted to live for a career that we were passionate about. As we make our way into the professional world, I want to challenge all of you here to pursue your passion and live for that passion in everything you do and plan to do.
• A – Attendance. A family friend told me that a part of life is just showing up. Being present has taken on a whole new meaning with the integration of technology in our everyday lives. Go to that networking event in the nearest city to you, join a professional group and attend their monthly meetings, or meet up with a friend to simply catch up. Most times you have nothing to lose. So make it a point to show up and be present in what is happening now to be better prepared for the future.
• C – Connect. We live in a world today where connections can make a big difference in our career paths. Look around you. There are connections sitting next to you, up on this stage, and even (among) our guests. Take advantage and use them. The opportunities and possibilities are endless, and it can all depend on who you reach out to. Reaching out to the right connections and continuing the growth of your professional network can make all the difference in pursuing your career goals and future ventures.
• K – Knowledge. For some of us, our graduation today marks the end of our formal education; for others, graduate school awaits us in the fall or in the future. Make it an initiative to never stop learning. Our experiences have taught us about our strengths and limitations; continue to learn how to accentuate your strengths and overcome your limitations. We have been exposed to so many different learning opportunities outside of the classroom, it is now up to us to go out and experience what the world has still to teach us.

While the PACK mnemonic wrapped up Glanton’s talk, she had started her talk by extending thanks. Following are excerpts from the remainder of her address.

“I would like to start by taking this time to extend my gratitude toward three important support systems that have made a huge impact on the many graduating students here today.

"First, to the families. Thank you for your unconditional love and support these past four years. …. You’ve watched us go through the challenges of living away from home, supported us as we struggled through challenging courses, paid for our groceries when we spent our allotted budget the weekend before, and gave us a home cooked meal when we came home for the weekend. You have been our confidants and our support these past years, and for that we thank you.

"Next, to the staff and faculty of the Poole College of Management. We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to learn from your career experiences, become inspired to embark on our own research projects, and (be) connected to the employers who offered us our first internships or job offer. Thank you to my professors for bringing the business world into the classroom with guest speakers … and for challenging us every day to grow professionally, to take risks, and to stay awake in Nelson 3400.

"To the Poole College of Management staff, thank you for always being available through open office hours when we needed those last minute course approvals, for those reminders of internship and employment opportunities through our weekly job blast emails, and for reminding me I still needed to take the M110 test if I intended to graduate. Your doors were always open to listen to our complaints, offering us encouragement to take advantage of all the resources the college offers, and advising on whether or not we should continue our education through graduate programs or take that job offer across the country.

"Now, as I look out to my fellow classmates, the graduating class of 2013, I am happy to see so many excited and familiar faces looking back at me. … Time has gone by faster than we expected, I am not only proud to be a graduate of NC State University but to be a graduate from the Poole College of Management with all of you today."  

Read more about the Poole College Commencement Ceremony.