Adrienne Hooper: Reflecting on Breadth, Depth of Learning Opportunities at Poole College

Adrienne Hooper, from Greensboro, N.C., presented the NC State Poole College of Management’s student address at the college’s Spring Commencement Ceremony held Saturday, May 13. In her remarks, she reflects on the collective experiences – her own and those of her fellow students, saying, “… we have developed a strong foundation of core values that will serve us well in the business world and beyond because we’ll be the ones who will make sure that rich and varied perspectives are considered when solving problems and building teams.”

Hooper graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor of science degree in accounting and a wealth of student experiences, including membership in the Alpha Kappa Chapter of Chi Omega Sorority, the National Society of Leadership and Success, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honors Society, and Poole College’s Accounting Society where she served as vice president and social chair. She also was a Commons Ambassador for the Institute of Emerging Issues in Hunt Library and has attended Johnson Lambert’s Job Learning Program and ELITE Summer Leadership Program. In addition, she has volunteered with Make-a-Wish and Stop Hunger Now, among other organizations.

Her education continues this fall, as a student in Poole College’s Master of Accounting Program, preparing her to receive her CPA license and work in the field of public accounting. Read her remarks below; subheaders have been added.

2017 Student Commencement Address by Adrienne Cooper

“Good afternoon parents, faculty, friends, staff, administrators and loved ones, without your support we would not have made it to this most special of days. And, perhaps most importantly, a warm welcome and congratulations to the Class of 2017!

“Today, I stand on this stage, honored to be sharing one of life’s greatest moments and accomplishments with all of you – college graduation. Upon admission, my fellow students and I aspired for excellence, which is why we chose the Poole College of Management at NC State. We have all been given a unique opportunity to live, learn, study and grow at a world-class college of management. In fact, on a global scale, very few people are fortunate enough to have access to robust educational experiences such as those provided by NC State and the Poole College.

“Both NC State and the Poole College have brought the world to us (figuratively and literally), and offered us a breadth and depth of learning opportunities that are unprecedented. How incredible it has been to spend our undergraduate years at a place where diverse and inclusive mindsets are the rule and not the exception. We have been challenged academically to achieve our greatest potential by outstanding faculty … and have since mentally blocked out some classes with certain unnamed professors. I’m sure the rest of my peers can fully relate to the special nature of this place and these experiences. An institution whose competitiveness and rigor are remarkable but whose students are genuinely interested in and take care of one another. Through this journey, we have been consistently reminded that we have not walked this path alone, but rather as Wolfpack brethren.

“Through our collective experiences, we have developed a strong foundation of core values that will serve us well in the business world and beyond because we’ll be the ones who will make sure that rich, and varied perspectives are considered when solving problems and building teams.

“We’ll see the opportunities to grow sales targeted to different customers with cultural nuances respected, and built into the product designs. Why? Because of our ability to critically think about all of the moving parts of our decision making process and how every stakeholder will be impacted. We will never stop working to improve what we do yet will remain dedicated to our thoughtful approaches to management, because we were taught to THINK and DO the EXTRAORDINARY. That’s the Poole College of Management difference that each graduate in attendance today will make in our global world of work.

“It is important to acknowledge our appreciation to NC State for modeling what the world is like. We’ve learned, and processed, and now it is time to apply the skills we have honed and the expertise we have developed. In doing so, let’s actively listen to ideas that are different from our own. Let’s appreciate and embrace differences of opinion. Let’s infuse empathy into our interactions with those around us. And most importantly, let’s remember to find joy each and every day, even when the work is hard and the days are long. I personally will be repeating this mantra as I pursue the NC State Masters of Accounting Program next year.

“As I reflect back on my experiences these past four years, I can’t help but draw both meaning and inspiration from one of my favorite childhood stories. Recently, I found time to watch the Jungle Book on Netflix. I was reminded of a profound quote penned by Rudyard Kipling, which seems very appropriate for graduation today.

“NOW this is the law of the jungle, as old and as true as the sky, And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk, the law runneth forward and back, for the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

“Now I’m not sure about you, but I had to do a little research to fully understand what this thought-provoking quote meant.

For the strength of the pack is the wolf

“I learned that the wolf itself is an incredible predator with a recognizable howl and remarkable sense of smell and sight. It is capable of taking down prey that is 2 or 3 times its size and can wander for miles in search of food. While the wolf has these strengths, ultimately, a lone wolf may not survive.

For the strength of the wolf is the pack

“I also learned that wolfpacks are created with a strict methodology of hierarchy and breeding. Each pack member has an established role in taking down the chosen prey, behaving like a team to accomplish a goal.

“These notions are so very relevant to each of us as graduating members of the Wolfpack. We are individuals graduating from this school today. Each of us has a unique skillset, personality, and different life experiences. At NC State, we understand that our drive must match our goals. So, let’s go out into the world to pursue new goals, make new choices, and take the best actions with an intentionality, intensity and focus like a wolf. But, let’s also be just as determined and intentional to leverage the skills, perspectives, and experiences of others around us, …for like the wolf pack, we will be able to better accomplish what we cannot achieve alone. We’ll be more successful working with teams, having a greater impact on the world around us.

“Each one of us is a member of this Wolfpack, and each of us has had a significant role in making the Poole College what it is today…a place where leaders are developed, researchers are encouraged, entrepreneurs are born, and innovators are thriving. We leave here today proudly knowing we are a part of something greater than ourselves and have the strength of the pack behind us.

“We are only as strong as we are united, so let’s stay connected together through this school of excellence and innovation. Thank you, and GO PACK!” – Adrienne Hooper

Tamah Morant, associate dean of undergraduate programs at Poole College, commented on Cooper’s remarks, saying, “The foundation of core values you and your classmates have honed here at NC State – excellence, inclusiveness, teamwork, empathy – will continue to serve you well long after graduation.”