Page 1 of 1

Commencement 2011

Posted: May 14th, 2011, 3:14 pm
by BJWilliams
Well I gotta say...it was a fine speech by Mr Wallace...No politics, no grandstanding...an all around good speech. Once the video is up I recommend watching it

Re: Commencement 2011

Posted: May 15th, 2011, 6:23 pm
by JeanW
Who is Mr. Wallace?

Re: Commencement 2011

Posted: May 15th, 2011, 6:42 pm
by BJWilliams
Randall Wallace, the man behind We Were Soldiers, Braveheart and Secratariat

Re: Commencement 2011

Posted: May 15th, 2011, 7:58 pm
by Cider Jim

Re: Commencement 2011

Posted: May 16th, 2011, 12:20 am
by phoenix
The rain stayed away (thankfully, since my wife graduated from the School of Business and we were at the stadium until 2:30!), the address was meaningful, inspiring, and short -- all in all, a good commencement ceremony. AND I got in 36 holes of disc golf while I was there :D

Now I have to decide if I'm going to walk next May when I finish my MAT. I guess it depends on who the speaker is ;-)

Re: Commencement 2011

Posted: May 16th, 2011, 2:45 pm
by alum82

Re: Commencement 2011

Posted: May 16th, 2011, 4:10 pm
by ALUmnus
alum82 wrote:http://www2.newsadvance.com/news/2011/m ... r-1039633/
Alright, you apparently have whatever condition 4everfsu has. Please quote from the article, that would really be appreciated.

Re: Commencement 2011

Posted: May 16th, 2011, 6:13 pm
by Cider Jim
ALU, the link worked for me, but here is part of the article where Wallace shares his testimony:
Wallace said his family moved to Lynchburg in 1961, after his father lost his job of 20 years as a salesman. For several years, his family struggled to get by. What little money they had went toward putting food on the table and making donations to their church, Wallace said.

A Baptist by upbringing, Wallace majored in religion at Duke University and considered becoming a pastor. Instead, he found his calling in writing and film.

“I had begun to understand that movies were a way that I could express the deepest values of my soul,” Wallace said.

He described the challenges he faced during his early days as a screenwriter, including losing his job during a Writer’s Guild strike.

“Suddenly, I had no job and no money and lots of bills…,” he said. “I felt that I was failing my parents, my wife, everyone who loved me. Most of all, I felt I was failing my children.”

Wallace’s unemployment led to a period of prayer and soul-searching that planted the seed for “Braveheart,” he said. On the edge of failing as a Hollywood writer, Wallace said he got down on his knees and prayed to God:

“If I go down in this fight, then let me do it not on my knees in worship of Hollywood, but standing up in the battle with my flag flying in worship of you,” Wallace said.

“And I stood up, and I wrote the words that led to ‘Braveheart.’”

Now a film industry veteran, Wallace has earned a reputation for writing films based on the values of love, courage and honor. He called on the graduates to honor their faith in whatever path they chose.

“When you ask yourself, ‘what do I owe my parents, my school, myself? What do I owe God?’ I believe it means that you answer ‘Love with faith.’ That you step into the world not knowing, but believing.”

Re: Commencement 2011

Posted: May 16th, 2011, 9:09 pm
by alabama24
I thought Mr. Wallace did a great job. His address was the best I have ever been a part of.