NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The message to graduates at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts was to have confidence that they can overcome obstacles, to be present in the moment and, most of all, to "wage love."

 

The college conferred 308 degrees and certificates at Saturday's 124th annual commencement ceremony in the Amsler Center gymnasium. The class of 2023 marched through the campus and through the symbolic gates of college under blue skies to be greeted by applause and cheers from family and friends. 

 

Comfort Acheampong of Malden, vice president of the class of 2023, detailed the fits and starts of her college career that was affected by the pandemic, academic frustrations and a family emergency that took her away from campus. Catching up in her senior year to graduate with honors meant a demanding and rigorous schedule.  

 

"These three semesters were the hardest, the most stressful of my life. But I did it," the performing arts major said to cheers from her classmates. "I thrived, I laughed and studied through it all. And I've succeeded. When I look back at my time in my life here, I cannot help but appreciate the folks who are motivated and inspired to challenge myself." 

 

Acheampong believed they all had had similar experiences, particularly in the disruption the pandemic had as they were settling into the college environment. 

 

"Everything suddenly became virtual, having our education and relationships reduced to a box on a screen was not an easy obstacle to overcome," she said. "We couldn't have felt that sense of love and belonging, that we felt and it suddenly gets taken away. It's hard to even find the motivation to keep going."

 

It was a lesson they all learned that life will throw curve balls, she said, urging the class to keep going and commit to what they are passionate about. 

 

"You are more capable and stronger than you think," said Acheampong. "Your presence here today is a testament to that strength. Remember the lessons these last four years have taught you: keep that vital spirit alive and lead with love, in all things, wage love."

 

Anya Pesce, a master of education candidate, had her own curveballs, including wondering if it was worth the effort on her first day when there was a call from child care and found her water bottle had spilled over her new laptop. 

 

"Let's just say those few minutes will stay with me forever," she said. "I wanted to just run away and I remember thinking to myself, I am crazy to think that I can do this. And then I remembered the little girl inside who always wanted to be a teacher. So I kept up."

 

The Mount Greylock Regional Middle School math teacher thanked those who supported her and especially her parents, who brought their family from Russia. 

 

"I have no words to describe how grateful I am for your courage to come to this country in the hope of a better future for me," she said to great applause. "Your courage, sacrifice and determination are the reason I'm standing here today as the first-generation college graduate."

 

Her advice to the class was to "fight the feeling of flight when it arises, have the courage to leap into the unknown. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. And don't be too proud to ask for help. 

 

"Take it from me. It is never too late to follow your dreams."

 

President James Birge, noted the difficulties the college has gone through the past couple years, including the loss of junior Isabella "Izzy" Bunce, a psychology major who took her life in February and was being awarded her degree posthumously. 

 

"It is also the case that the world is a different place today than when you arrived here," Birge said in his charge to the class. "There is a pressing need in the world today for thoughtful, intelligent, creative and resilient people like you.

 

"The world and our communities are calling for more MCLA graduates to ameliorate the conditions that have become so oppressive and so dangerous for so many. Use your education, your knowledge to create change, while bringing more kindness into this world.

 

"You're the best hope and strategy we have to improve this broken world."

 

Acheampong, Zurie Adams and Caitlyn Falzone, accompanied by Timothy Rougeau, sang "America the Beautiful" and Birge read out the honors graduates and recognized the "golden" graduates in attendance, including the class of 1963.

 

"We know the pandemic changed some of your college experience but we're so pleased when you're determined focus to complete your degree," said Brenda Burdick, chair of the board of trustees. "As a board, we admire your ability to be adaptable and tenacious during a time it was difficult to plan uncertainty."

 

Birge presented the honorary degrees with the assistance of Burdick and Trustee Mohan Boodram. Kenneth Turner, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, was presented a doctorate of science; Joe Dwinell, a 1982 graduate of the college executive editor of the Boston Herald, was presented a doctorate in journalism; Brian and Vikki Fairbank of The Fairbank Group were presented with doctorates in public service as longtime supporters of MCLA and its new nursing program, Berkshire Health Systems and as civic and business leaders.  

 

Commencement speaker Patricia Okker was presented with a doctorate of letters. Okker is a veteran educator and English professor, an author, marathoner and most recently president of the New College in the state of Florida, which she left in January. 

 

Okker said this was the first, and possibly the last, commencement speech she had been invited to give and was glad it was a public liberal arts college.

 

"There is something deeply familiar to me about this place, and that's your commitment to being a top-ranked public liberal arts college," she said. "This may not be the most fashionable thing to do these days. Many people have written off a liberal arts education as obsolete. But all of us here know differently.'

 

The nation's founders understood that public education was necessary for democracy itself, Okker said, and noted that in the three decades she's been meeting with employers, "I could tell you that every single one without exception, have emphasized the importance of hiring people who know how to learn, who will know how to adapt to whatever the future holds."

 

She spoke of a "culture of caring" for both subjects being pursued and even more important for one another. Having a deep sense of belonging is requirement for true learning, she said, and love and intellectual rigor can co-exist together. 

 

"I know that some of you will mark my choice here claiming that love is not a value of the liberal arts. So I'm very pleased to note that I'm not the first one to mention it today," Okker said. "Some suggest that the liberal arts are all about intellectual rigor. But the liberal arts have taught me I do not need to choose between the two. I know that I learned the most from faculty who loved truly love their subject matter. And they opened my eyes to the wonders of the world."

 

As to parting words of wisdom for the future, she thought it better to focus on something more important: "This moment right now." She urged the graduates to think about what was happening on this day -- who were they sitting with, what they wore, what funny thing might have happened. 

 

"Life is filled with moments of before and after, moments of profound transition and transformation. ... you beautiful graduates, you are getting one of those magical moments. Right now," Okker said. "So my charge to you wonderful graduates is go tell your MCLA story. Do it today. Tell a story not about your future, but about the magic of this moment, right here before us."