University of Arkansas Commencement Address, 1978

COMMENCEMENT SCRIPT, 6 DEMOCRATIC TRADITIONS IS THE CONCEPT OF EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SO IN EDUCATION. WE STRESS THE BELIEF THAT EVERY STUDENT SHOULD HAVE THE COMMON OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME THE UNCOMMON INDIVIDUAL. WE RECOGNIZE THAT EDUCATION IS A VERY HUMAN AND INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE, AND WE EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ORIENTED TOWARD INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT. IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT THOSE CAPABLE OF EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT MUST BE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. INDEED, WE KNOW THAT IF THIS IS NOT DONE THE GIFTED WILL BE CHEATED AND SOCIETY WILL BE THE UNWARRANTED VICTIM OF A SICKENING MEDIOCRITY. THIS COUNTRY, THEREFORE, HAS ESTABLISHED A RECORD OF UNPARALLELED INVESTMENTS IN ITS PEOPLE. NO OTHER NATION PROVIDES SO MUCH EMPHASIS UPON THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THIS IS PARTICULARLY SO IN HIGHER EDUCATION. IT IS ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE, THEREFORE, THAT WE COME HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. YET, I MUST EMPHASIZE THE REALITY OF THE TRANSITION THAT YOU ARE NOW UNDERGOING. THE WORLD WILL NOT AWAIT YOU WITH OUTSTRETCHED ARMS. INDEED, IT IS MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE YOU WITH A YAWN OF INDIFFERENCE OR A COLD SHOULDER. THIS IS A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE SOCIETY. THE MOST THAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU CAN EXCEL WHEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. THE YEARNING TO ACHIEVE IS SO DEEPLY IMBEDDED IN OUR SOCIETY THAT IN MANY ENDEAVORS EXCELLENCE IS ITS OWN REWARD. SOME OF YOU WILL PURSUE CAREERS IN THE ARTS OR IN THE SCIENCES WHERE INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IS PARAMOUNT. CONSIDER, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRIDE OF TH