Professor encourages students to initiate change
Don’t wait for things to change – change them yourself, Patricia Gantt, a professor in the department of English, told students at the Last Lecture in the TSC Ballroom Thursday.
Gantt was chosen as the 32nd annual Last Lecture speaker by process of nomination and interview by a board of students. Gantt has been working in public education for 41 years and was recently awarded the English department teacher of the year.
Gantt shared a dozen “home truths” that she said she has tested with her own experience.
“I would like to share some of the things that I have learned along the way in hopes of making your journey through life easier, more pleasant and more adventuresome,” Gantt said.
Gantt said her generation experienced different things than the current generation of college students.
“The pivotal question of my generation was where were you when Kennedy was shot, not where were you on 9/11,” Gantt said.
Gantt said during her lifetime she saw the introduction of color television, the marches for civil rights and the fall of many American heroes.
“We watched in horror and disbelief as our heroes fell victim to violence,” Gantt said. “First John, then Malcolm, then Martin and then finally Bobby.”
Throughout all this, Gantt said one of the lessons she learned was to “eat the mayonnaise,” or to enjoy the things she loves in life now instead of saving them for a special occasion.
“A dear friend of mine’s secret passion was mayonnaise, but she was concerned that ingesting fats could increase her cholesterol,” Gantt said.
Gannt’s friend passed away later from reasons completely unrelated to her “mayo mischief,” Gantt said, so she wishes her friend would have eaten more mayonnaise throughout her life just because she enjoyed it.
“When we come along something that makes us enjoy life more, so long as it isn’t morally or physically detrimental to ourselves and others, why hold back?” Gantt said.
Gantt said she feels people should not hold back in their profession either.
“Find the profession you feel passionate about – one that will excite, reward and challenge you across the years – then give it everything you have without holding back,” Gantt said. “Devote your energy, enthusiasm and intelligence and caring to that profession you have chosen.”
Gantt said no matter what happens, she never lets herself get bored because her mother taught her that “boredom is a sure sign of lack of imagination.”
“People who are bored are boring,” Gantt said. “Always have projects at hand. There are always walks to take, gardens to plant, bikes to ride and stories to read.”
Gantt said students should “dig for the gold” in themselves and other people. She said this will help students find the good in other people and themselves so they can figure out what their contribution in life will be.
“Everyone has something that she or he does better than anybody else, in fact, better than anybody who has lived or ever will live. Please believe that,” Gantt said.
Not only should students believe in themselves and others, they should also have faith in something bigger, Gantt said. But even with faith, no one should be waiting around for the world to change itself, she said.
“Don’t wait for the world to change,” Gannt said. “Change the world in the small ways you already have in your power.”
-debrajoy@cc.usu.edu