New Student Opening Ceremony keynote address: 'The answer is w88 online live casino'

(Editor's note: On Aug. 26 at Lawlor Events Center, Albert Lee, director of the Nevada Chamber Opera and vocal professor in the School of the Arts, delivered a stirring keynote address to the first-year students gathered for the 17^th annual New Student Opening Ceremony. When he finished, Dr. Lee received a standing ovation. Below is text of Dr. Lee's speech.)

As a classical musician, an opera singer to be specific, I am usually afforded the great opportunity to perform music of some of the greatest composers and words of the greatest poets to ever live. In this medium as the keynote speaker for such an amazing occasion welcoming the class of 2020, new and returning faculty and staff, welcoming the new Dean of CLA, welcoming a new crop of graduate students I found myself challenged. What could I possibly share with this group to send w88 online live casino on your journey ahead empowered, inspired, and equipped? I wrote down a proverb in my journal that is always a source of inspiration for me. I wrote two other phrases that could be centering thoughts for my remarks to w88 online live casino today. In the end, when I asked myself what I would share, the reply I finally got last night around 9 p.m. was "The Answer Is w88 online live casino."

Because we are in an academic environment I cannot go any further without giving credit to the author and inspiration for this thought. Michael Bernard Beckwith, the spiritual teacher and author, teaches a series with this statement as its title. But I want to go in a different direction. I would like to begin by telling w88 online live casino about my summer. By all accounts it was one of the most memorable of my life. I gave six performances this past summer, two of a personal nature and four professionally. I would like to share three of them with w88 online live casino this morning.

And before I proceed I want to preface what I'm about to say with this; what I'm about to share may be a little heavy. But if w88 online live casino would hear my heart, I think w88 online live casino'll find a few nuggets to take with w88 online live casino along the way. w88 online live casino see, Class of 2020, we are entering this school year during what seems like a tumultuous time. Together, we will have the opportunity to be a part of selecting the next President of the United States, together, we will have the opportunity to select members of congress, and together, we will have an opportunity, if w88 online live casino are registered locally, to weigh in on the direction of public schools in Washoe County. It is a PHENOMENAL time to be here, it's a phenomenal time to be entering college at the University of Nevada, Reno, and it's a phenomenal time to renew our commitment to our highest ideals as Americans, as members of this community, and most of all as human beings. I believe that sitting before is limitless potential, untold possibility, and the unfolding of a level of greatness that UNR has never witnessed. The Answer is w88 online live casino Class of 2020.

This first performance was at the wedding of a dear friend just outside of Washington, D.C. Now I've been singing weddings since I was six years old. This shouldn't be a big deal really. But this was quite different. I was singing as the couple to be married was processing down the aisle and couple that was getting married was two men. Now I grew up in a conservative Christian home, I am a member of a church that can be conservative in some of its teachings and here I was singing as a gay couple entered. The father of one of the grooms said on several occasions leading up to the wedding that he was not going and he was not interested in being a part of such foolishness.

Why on earth would I share this story in this setting? I share this with w88 online live casino because if w88 online live casino look very carefully there is a message for the journey ahead. w88 online live casino see, the nervousness and discomfort that my friend's father felt, that even I felt for that matter, is no different than what some of w88 online live casino are feeling right now. w88 online live casino're away from home, in a new environment, and around new people. w88 online live casino will be in classes with strange teachers, living close to people who live very differently than w88 online live casino lived in your house where w88 online live casino're from. But what I learned at that wedding is a lesson that I want w88 online live casino to carry with w88 online live casino along this journey. Instead of running from discomfort, instead of avoiding challenges, instead of bowing out in the face of fear; I admonish, I implore w88 online live casino, I beg of w88 online live casino see the lesson in the uncomfortable moment. Ask yourself, how can I grow from this experience? What is life trying to teach me in this moment? w88 online live casino may not get an A in every class but w88 online live casino will be stronger, wiser, and better. What I've learned along the way and what was true in that moment is that your gift will always make room for w88 online live casino. What w88 online live casino offer to this community is as important as the education w88 online live casino are seeking.

The second performance that was significant this summer was on June 23^rd. I was in the church where I grew up. My family was there, several of my dearest friends were there as I sang the Lord's Prayer. I had performed this arrangement of the Lord's Prayer since I was in high school. But this performance was unique. I was standing in front of a casket singing for a funeral. The person lying in the casket was my brother.

Why would I share with w88 online live casino one of the most difficult moments of my life where I had to actually perform and could not simply grieve? I share it with w88 online live casino because between now and the time that w88 online live casino put on academic regalia and walk across the stage to get your degree w88 online live casino will have every reason possible to quit. w88 online live casino'll be able to come up with every excuse known of why w88 online live casino can't meet a deadline. But I stand here as your cheerleader and your example there is nothing that can ever stop w88 online live casino but w88 online live casino. Was I grieving? Yes. Was I hurting badly? Yes. Did I wish that I could have been somewhere else not facing that challenge at that time? Absolutely. But I let my determination rise above my grief. Please don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that w88 online live casino bury pain. I'm not suggesting that w88 online live casino ignore your grief. But I want w88 online live casino to promise me and promise yourselves this one thing; that w88 online live casino will not take the path of least resistance; that w88 online live casino will not look for the easy way out; that w88 online live casino will strive at every moment to be YOUR best, whatever that may be.

The third performance I want to tell w88 online live casino about was in a small town in Germany. I was performing an arrangement of Amazing Grace with the Nevada and New England Ambassadors of Music and we were dedicating the performance to victims of terrorism in Nice and in Munich that had just taken place. Despite that tragedy and our goal to provide comfort in healing, my mind was elsewhere. Just a few days before this concert in a small village outside of Innsbruck, Austria where were also giving a concert I was called a nigger and told to get out of town. Startled, angry, and uneasy in foreign surroundings I found my way back to my hotel room and I stayed there. I did not want to go out. I did not want to talk.

Why would I share a story about being called a nigger by someone who meant it as a dagger through my heart, and to violently demonstrate to me I did not belong there? Because I want w88 online live casino to know that each of us here have a role to play in either the eradication or perpetuation of racism, xenophobia, homophobia, sexism, and ageism. The night that I was called a nigger there were a few people standing nearby. They said nothing and they walked away. On this campus, at this great institution, in this diverse environment w88 online live casino will see and hear things that stereotype, marginalize, and minimize. Will w88 online live casino come to the aid of one who is being marginalized by peers or even faculty or will w88 online live casino walk away? Will w88 online live casino reject derogatory language when w88 online live casino hear it or will w88 online live casino remain silent? Will w88 online live casino treat someone who doesn't look like w88 online live casino or doesn't speak English as perfectly as w88 online live casino do, like an outsider, or is that person just as much a part of the Wolf Pack as w88 online live casino? Class of 2020 w88 online live casino have the power to shape and reshape this community. w88 online live casino are not here simply to get an education so w88 online live casino can get a job. That's what community college and trade school is for. w88 online live casino are here open your minds, broaden your horizons, and find your place in this world in which we live.

w88 online live casino know, in that moment I SERIOUSLY did not want to sing. Not in that town and not anywhere in the German speaking world. I told w88 online live casino earlier that your gift would make room for w88 online live casino. I've been in situations where my gift was welcomed, but I was not. I could offer song, share my art, entertain the masses, but my humanity, my story, and my experiences where not necessarily welcome; where my gift was used but I felt discarded. I tell w88 online live casino now what I told myself then; w88 online live casino can't be anyone but w88 online live casino, w88 online live casino can do anything but offer what w88 online live casino have; give to the best of your ability and know that whether it is respected or rejected that w88 online live casino can sleep well at night knowing that w88 online live casino have taken the moral high ground and that somewhere, someone was changed because your gift entered their life.

Before I take my seat I want to leave w88 online live casino with this: If w88 online live casino endeavor to be the best w88 online live casino, if w88 online live casino push past obstacles, if w88 online live casino can push your ego aside and ask for help when w88 online live casino need it, w88 online live casino will find that the person w88 online live casino are today will not be the person that walks across the stage and receives a degree. w88 online live casino will see the unfoldment of a w88 online live casino that w88 online live casino never dreamed existed. Embrace the uncomfortable, push pass the challenging circumstances, be the presence that uplifts all, pursues justice and values equity and w88 online live casino will leave UNR with not only a degree but an experience that w88 online live casino will never forget.

Now for the practical:

On Monday w88 online live casino will begin getting syllabi from each of your classes. Let me share with w88 online live casino what w88 online live casino're going to do. This is your first assignment. There is no grade. And it will not be turned in but I expect that it is done. w88 online live casino will gather your syllabi and w88 online live casino will get a calendar. It can be a written calendar or an electronic calendar. w88 online live casino are going to begin filling in that calendar all quizzes, tests, exams, papers, and major assignments w88 online live casino have due. If it's a writing class and writing isn't your strongest area, w88 online live casino're going to back the due date up by at least three days so that w88 online live casino can take your paper to the Writing Center and get assistance. If it's a math or math-related class and w88 online live casino know w88 online live casino struggle, w88 online live casino will take some time with the material for that class every chance w88 online live casino get. w88 online live casino will not tell yourself that w88 online live casino can't do something. w88 online live casino will ask yourself how am I going to get this done? w88 online live casino will do your reading before class and w88 online live casino will take notes. This is college. w88 online live casino must be an active participant in the learning process and not empty heads waiting to be fulfilled. Now! The music students who are assembled know that I will walk up to w88 online live casino at any time and in any venue and ask w88 online live casino if w88 online live casino've done what I asked. Am I being hard just for the sake of it? No! I'm pushing w88 online live casino to be your best. And in return, your best inspires me to keep on striving to be my best. Can we be accountable to one another in that way?

Wolf Pack, Michael Bernard Beckwith shared this in his message. Every problem w88 online live casino face is a question trying to ask itself; and every question w88 online live casino have is an answer trying to reveal itself. Every answer is an action trying to express itself; and every action a way of life trying to be born. If w88 online live casino would be available to what this moment is offering w88 online live casino, if w88 online live casino would open yourselves up to every challenge, if w88 online live casino step out of your comfort zone to embrace different people, different experiences, new ways of thinking, and different ways of being, w88 online live casino will be the leaders of progress in this community and in this world. And w88 online live casino will be the greatest group this institution has ever assembled. Wolf Pack!!! THE ANSWER IS w88 online live casino.

Audio version of the above recorded live: