ADDRESS BY DR JOYCE ARYEE

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EIGTH CONGREGATION OF CENTRAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE WELCOME ADDRESS BY DR JOYCE ARYEE, CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF CENTRAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE - SATURDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2009

The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. John Mahama, the Chancellor of the Central University College, Dr. Mensa Otabil, President of Central University College Prof. Victor Gadzekpo, Hon. Minister for Education, Mr. Alex Tettey Enyo, the Guest Speaker, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Members of the Board of Regents, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Nana Jane Opoku Agyemang, Vice Chancellors, Presidents, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of Convocation, Members of the Clergy, Neneme, Distinguished Invited Guests, Graduands, Students, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with a special joy that I welcome you all to another treasured moment in the lives of our students and the University. Congregations are the most sacred events in the life of universities, it is the day set aside to award degrees, diplomas and certificates to deserving graduands. It is a festival of excellence at which talent, hard work and distinction are acknowledged and rewarded.

As I look around, I am amazed at the faithfulness of the God who made all this possible. Those of you who know this campus would testify that two years ago, most of this land was just a forest. Yet today, it is a bustling beehive of activity, nature has been tamed, order had been brought into chaos, and we all sit to celebrate. It was also just three years ago on 21st April 2007, that I welcomed the very first batch of our MBA students. Now, all too soon, I am here to wish you well on you graduation day. We congratulate you for having stayed to the end.

As I survey the seated, expectant graduands, I cannot help but ask myself what your individual story is. What challenges and adversities did you overcome to sit here today? What seemingly insurmountable difficulties, pressures, and despairing moments did you overcome to see this day? Doubtless, each one of you has a story to tell. I salute the undergraduate student who deferred his programme two times for lack of money, and almost dropped out, but managed to get here today to be recognized. I salute the mother in the MBA programme who decided to go back to school and develop a career even though time had passed, and hope was almost lost. To all of you who made it through the fire and the pressure, congratulations.

I want to share with you some lessons from the story of a diamond, a pearl and a rain drop. Sometimes, the most beautiful and precious things have interesting stories to tell. By observing nature, we can learn many lessons applicable to our lives. And I hope that you would take something from nature with you as you leave the corridors of school to re-enter the world of work, or to start out afresh, with hope and anticipation of a bright future.

The word "Diamond" comes from the greek word "Adamas", which means indestructible. Diamonds are made from carbon. They are formed by high pressure and high temperature. They are formed deep in the earth, between 120 and 200 kilometres from the earth’s surface. When tremendous pressure is put on carbon, it melts at high temperature. If the conditions are right, it will eventually form diamonds. How it eventually gets to the surface is another story all together. Usually, it is during volcanic explosions. Then we discover them, cut and polish them, and place them on our fingers and necks. That is why they say pressure makes diamonds.

The same is true of people. Many of the enduring and successful people we have in the world were forged in the furnace of adversity and pressure. The same process which puts you under pressure, may be the one which makes you shine. That is why you need to develop a new work ethic, to see work with different eyes, not as something we do to live, but a ministry, a God-given responsibility, something we live to do. You must not shirk responsibility and seek the easy way out of life. Remember, diamonds are formed by pressure.

The second illustration is the pearl. Pearls are formed within oysters. The formation of a pearl begins when a foreign substance enters into the oyster’s shell which irritate­s it. It could be a grain of sand, a broken shell or a piece of dirt. Because an oyster has no hands and feet, it cannot remove the irritant. The oyster's natural reaction is to cover up that irritant to protect itself. The oyster therefore covers the irritant with layers of the same substance that is used to create the shell. Over time, this eventually forms a pearl.

In life, you will do well to remember that you should not seek only the comfortable places of work, but also seek to serve in whatever capacity God places you. You must decide to transform your environment into the paradise you want to live in. Whenever you find yourself in a situation you do not like, do not always turn and run. Remember the pearl. It may be a call to service. What irritates you may make you a pearl of great price.

The last lesson to remember is learned from observing rain drops. At the heart of every rain drop is a speck of dust. Scientists tell us that before a drop of rain can be formed, particles of water vapour must meet with particles of dust. Scientists call them aerosols. Without these particles of dust, rain clouds cannot form. Every one of us is imperfect in one way or the other. It is a fact of life. No individual is self sufficient. Remember the rain drop. If you would achieve much in life, you cannot do it alone. Work together. And don’t allow your weaknesses to pull you back. We wash all things with water. But at the heart of the rain is a piece of dust. God has so ordained our lives that we should glory in our imperfections. We are complete only when we work together.

This is our eighth graduation, and we are grateful to God that we are also graduating our largest number of candidates yet. It is my hope that your years of hard work and dedication will be rewarded with fruitful and meaningful careers when you pass out of our doors today. We also pray that the fruits of your studies shall be rewarding to yourselves and your families; that you shall put your knowledge at the service of society and community; and that with the help of your contributions this country shall become a winning nation.

I have confidence in the training that our graduands have received. I have confidence in the institutions that facilitated your education. I also have confidence in the God who has begun a good work in you. Congratulations, and may your future be filled with great things.

Once again, welcome to all of you on this august occasion.