Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine spoke yesterday of hope and optimism for the future despite the challenging economic times the country is enduring.
The source for that positive outlook: college students, like the ones receiving diplomas during the 179th commencement at the University of Richmond.
Kaine focused on what he's learned from college students during his years as a public official -- their resiliency, desire to perform public service and acceptance of people from different backgrounds.
"I've seen a lot of you in the last 16 years and I feel good about tomorrow because of it," Kaine said.
Many of those walking across the stage inside the Robins Center embody the words the governor spoke.
Muska Assad, a native of Kabul, Afghanistan flourished in America and the University of Richmond as she completed a double major in political science and international studies with a concentration in world politics and diplomacy. At the age of 11, Assad and her family fled their homeland for Pakistan to escape the Taliban regime before returning in 2003.
She hopes to attend law school at Georgetown and then return to Afghanistan to "be an advocate for women's rights and children."
"I have experienced how Afghan women . . . are deprived of their basic human rights," Assad said. "Just being in the environment and seeing political changes in Afghanistan, it made me think about doing something to be able to contribute towards my society and my people."
Mechanicsville native Adrian Bitton was orphaned at 10 when her mother died. She graduated magna cum laude with degrees in rhetoric and communications and leadership studies. She hopes to one day return to academia as a professor.
School provided the stability she needed as she grew up living with various friends and relatives.
"I think for me, education is the ticket out," Bitton said. "I feel so lucky to have the privilege and opportunity to be able to do this; I realize . . . I'm so grateful for all the people who helped me get to this stage in my life. Mentors, professors, encouraging and cultivating that love of learning and love of knowledge in me."
Dan Petty, of Pennington, N.J., is an aspiring journalist, interning at the Denver Post this summer. After that, Petty is keeping his options open as he embarks into a murky job market -- getting a job in Denver, going abroad with the Peace Corps or returning to UR for his final year of eligibility as a cross-country runner.
"I feel like when you're graduating in the worst economy since the Great Depression, that's really the attitude that you have to take," said Petty, a biology and journalism major who finished 10th in the decathlon at the Atlantic 10 Track and Field Championship.
During his nearly 20-minute speech, Kaine also pointed to a decline in the number of adults who are pursuing higher education. It's a problem he says needs to be reversed.
"I don't see any scenario under which we can stay on that path and continue to be as successful as we need to be as a nation," he said.
Despite the bleak picture, Kaine's optimism for the future shines through. It circles back around to the students.
"To the students, especially, I'm a lot more optimistic about the world because of you guys, than I would have been without you," he said.
Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or jslayton@timesdispatch.com.
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