SPRING 1999 – Speaker Tells VGCC Graduates To Live In Trust, Not In Fear

Mother Nature brought cool winds and wet grounds to Vance-Granville Community College May 15, forcing spring graduation into the Civic Center.

But despite that, and an early morning brownout that threatened the amount of lights and air conditioning available, the ceremonies went off without a hitch, and 246 happy graduates received associate degrees or diplomas.

And the graduates heard some sound advice from the guest speaker, Dr. Elizabeth Lambert Johns, vice president, Academic and Student Services Division, N.C. Community College System.

First, she endeared herself to the graduates and guests when she urged the graduates to stand, turn and thank the parents, spouses, children and “main squeezes” who had helped them reach the point of Saturday’s graduation. She then told them they are faced with many choices about what to do with their lives.

“I want you to think about the idea that you can elect to live your life in fear, or that you can elect to live your life in the spirit of trust, and it is important to know the difference between the two,” Dr. Johns said.

She then related differences between the two, such as: trust is a catalytic process, and fear can be a destructive process; trust enriches experiences, fear robs it; trust makes you less dangerous, fear creates danger; trust is an integrating and “wholizing” force while fear constrains and blocks.

She also said that, “Trust and fear are keys to understanding persons and social systems. When trust is high, people and systems function well.”

“Trust provides an environment that nourishes personal growth, holistic health, spirituality, and the discovery of the soul,” Dr. Johns concluded. “Trust, and of course, love, can determine if you succeed or fail.”

This was the first graduation since Robert A. Miller took over as president of Vance-Granville Community College. He briefly welcomed the guests, congratulated the graduates and told those assembled that VGCC has conferred more than 15,000 degrees and diplomas since its first graduation in 1971.

He also said that in the past year, VGCC has experienced a 15 percent growth in curriculum students, 18 percent growth in extension enrollment and a 30 percent increase in adult basic education/G.E.D. students.

With the assistance of college deans, Miller presented the diplomas and degrees, including 18 Associate in Arts and four Associate in Science (college transfer) and 113 Associate in Applied Science degrees, 31 vocational or technical diplomas, 36 adult high school diplomas and 44 high school equivalency diplomas.