SOUTHEAST GRADUATES 276 STUDENTS

A Southeast Missouri State University history professor advised the summer graduated class Friday to find work they love.

"It is unfortunate that work is so often portrayed as drudgery, toil and grind," said Frank Nickell, professor of history and director of the Center for Regional History.

Speaking at the commencement ceremony Friday night at the Show Me Center, Nickell said: "A common characteristic of happy people, creative people and successful people is that they love their work. They may not like their job, their employer, or where they work, but they love what they do.

"University faculty and students are often great critics of their institutions. At SEMO, it is almost an obligation to criticize but many of us admit that we sort of like what we do here," he told the graduating class of 210 undergraduates and 66 graduate students.

"I urge you to seek a position that enables you to do work that you find meaningful, fun and so much like recreation and play that travail, grind, toil and drudgery become antonyms of work, not synonyms," advised Nickell.

He told the graduates they were at "a new beginning."

"As of today, all is forgiven your crying, pouting and selfishness of childhood; your teenage pranks and spills; your failure to obey rules. All is forgiven for today, you have achieved," said Nickell.

"A college education will not protect you against surprise, as it will not protect you against evil or tragedy," he said. "But it should enhance your ability to avoid being deceived by surprise, evil or tragedy."

He told the graduating students that their daily schedule would change in the transition from college to corporate life.

"You will have fewer naps, less television, fewer movies, fewer parties; you are going to have to get up earlier, and you will spend most of your daylight hours indoors."

Nickell urged the graduates to develop a "philosophy for caring" for others.

"Caring for others frees us from slavery to our own ego," he said.

"Education has provided excitement, adventure, beauty and simplicity to my life. I hope that it can do the same for you," he told the graduating class.

Citing a wish that has been offered up for 2,000 years to sons and daughters in Southeast Asia, Nickell said: "May you go a distant road and learn a basketful of wisdom."