Embassy of the United States

Speeches and Transcripts

Remarks at the University of Maryland University College Asia Commencement Ceremony

Alexander Vershbow
U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea

Seoul American High School
May 5, 2007

To University of Maryland University College Asia Director, Dr. Lorraine Suzuki, all of the other hard working faculty and staff present, distinguished guests, and to the 2007 graduating class, proud friends, family members of the graduates, I bring you greetings and most of all CONGRATULATIONS…you survived!

I say ‘survived,’ because I know how hard it is for you as adults with career, and sometimes family, commitments to finish a degree program at the same time.  Living and working overseas, often with round-the-clock duty schedules and no family members to help when problems arise, you inspire all of us with your focus and dedication.  You discovered that an entire textbook chapter can sometimes be reviewed while dinner is baking in the oven, or that it’s possible to write a 10-page paper on American history on a weekend…as long as the kids are with your spouse or as long as your roommates graciously leave you to yourself.

Perhaps more important, you found time to reflect on the larger issues raised during your studies.  Perhaps during class discussions or while commuting to and from work, you were able to think through questions such as why America should play a leadership role in the world; or how Mark Twain is really an author for the ages, not just his own century; or how that physics assignment helps answer the real-world engineering problem you’re dealing with at your facility.  Some of the specific facts and data you soaked up during your UMUC studies may need some refreshing a decade from now, but I am sure that the life skills you learned and refined – time management and critical thinking – will change forever the way you approach problems in your career and your personal lives.

One Embassy family member who has taken UMUC courses told me that she was always impressed by the dedication of the instructors and admissions staff.  Top-quality education by one of America’s best universities, less than a ten-minute’s walk from many of your workplaces.  Not bad!

Let me give you a bigger context.  You 45 graduates are among the 825 UMUC students in Asia receiving diplomas this spring.  That’s a lot of ‘survivors.’  We thank UMUC Asia for continuing to give educational opportunities to our American servicemen and women, DOD civilians, their dependents, and our Korean counterparts.

Those who dared to change the course of history created a path for you.  Before many of you were born, someone realized there was a need for more opportunities to receive a quality education while serving abroad.  Some wise people realized that those living overseas, who are often posted for short periods of time, were already making numerous sacrifices for our nation and being further disadvantaged in the educational arena.  Fifty years ago that need was addressed by establishing the University of Maryland University College Asia.  You have become part of the latest success chapter of the UMUC Asia legacy.

The University of Maryland first held classes in Korea during the 1956-1957 school year; thus this graduating class marks the 50th anniversary class in UMUC Asia’s history!  Today, we not only celebrate your individual achievements, but we also celebrate five decades of accomplishments through UMUC Asia.  I commend the educators and administrators of UMUC in Korea who helped make your degrees possible.

When many of you started your degree course you may have found it difficult to envision the day when you would finally reach your goal.  You overcame challenges at work and at home as well as some financial strains to be here, and your hard work has paid off.  You gave up countless episodes of “24” and “American Idol” and missed many social gatherings.  More seriously, you sacrificed time that would otherwise have been spent with your family or significant other. 

You truly walked down a different path in order to be able to walk down the aisle today and be recognized for your studies.  Thomas Edison once said that “opportunity is missed by people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”  You are, however, made of different stuff than that.  You are the root and fiber of America’s democracy.  Together, your skills and leadership potential are stronger than any enemy’s armaments or any enemy’s threat to democracy and freedom.

In fact, we look to many of you to safeguard the things we hold dear.  Not only are you responsible for protecting our freedom and ideals, but now you will be expected to do so with greater concern and increasing diligence.  A great educator and former President, Woodrow Wilson said: “The commands of democracy are as imperative as its privileges and opportunities are wide and generous.  Its compulsion is upon us.”  
Those of you who wear the uniform of one of our great armed services here in Korea are, of course, playing an especially important role: defending the last frontier of the Cold War and maintaining the peace in Northeast Asia.  Although those of us working on the diplomatic side are trying to negotiate an end to the North Korean nuclear threat and bring lasting peace to the Korean Peninsula, we know it’s an uphill battle.  The recent difficulties in the Six Party Talks only underscore that.  As we pursue a diplomatic solution, it is critical to maintain deterrence – to demonstrate a readiness to “fight tonight” so that the leaders in Pyongyang don’t even think about attacking our ally, the Republic of Korea.  The fact that you have pursued an education while carrying out this vital mission is very impressive.  (At the same time, I hope some of you will also think about a career in diplomacy – by joining the U.S. Foreign Service!)

Renowned opera singer and conductor Sarah Caldwell advised, “Learn everything you can, any time you can, from anyone you can – there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.”  The question today, however, is “Where do I go from here?”

First, after such an intense experience, you may actually miss the academic life.  You will actually have a free evening, or a weekend with unstructured time.  Now is the time to restore balance to your life, to replace the student role with more time that can be spent on parenting or perhaps thinking more seriously about that long-term relationship you have been putting off. 

It’s also time to live up to your supervisor’s expectations.  You may not realize how tolerant she or he has been of your time spent studying.  You have the chance now to apply to your career the important skills you learned studying.  Many of you are already leaders in your own right.  Whether you command a troop of one hundred or take orders from ten different people, you are still leaders.  And I believe you will find new confidence to take on more responsibilities and to tackle bigger tasks in your daily lives.  Armed with your new educational accomplishment, you are also much better prepared to be an active participant in the affairs of our nation. 

I hope you will also encourage others to take advantage of the opportunity to continue their education whenever possible, even when the situation may not seem conducive to doing so.  Share your experiences with others.  Tell them that they can survive school…and work…and family.

With a potential 40% increase in your earning power, you will now assume even greater responsibility for your own lives and those you love. 

A wise man, Orison Swett Marden, once said, “Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities.  Seize common occasions and make them great.  Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.”  I see no weak men or women in this audience today.  I see strong individuals who have decided to prepare for the future.

Obtaining your degree may once have seemed like an impossible goal; but now that you are here, wasn’t it all worth it?  Congratulations to you again for this achievement.  I commend you for reaching this goal, and I encourage you to build on your achievements here in Korea, in your future assignments, and after you return to America. 

I wish you all the best.  Thank you and good luck to you all.