Speech

Address by Gail J. McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross

When our children were teenagers, whenever they would leave our home, my husband or I would usually say to them, “Remember who you are.”

When I reach across the aisle, does someone reach back?

A Future Only God Could See for You

The many instances of some- times lethal violence and discrimination against Black people that have been widely publicized in the news media in the last several months have been deeply disturbing to me and

Unless you are either unusually lucky or incredibly unlucky, and in most cases even then, most of your careers will not be composed of drama.

BYU is a special place. I go to a lot of universities, and there is nowhere else like this. I grew up here on this campus. My father was part of the BYU Marriott faculty for thirty years. There isn’t one part of the Tanner Building that doesn’t have a Smith mark on it somewhere.

In “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” T. S. Eliot wrote, “‘Do I dare?’ . . . ‘Do I dare?’ . . . Do I dare / Disturb the universe?” Although I haven’t always recognized it, this simple question has been one that has guided my journey through life.

A graduation speaker should give graduates a glimpse into who they are—supplying an anchor that allows them to stand firm in the storms of life. Providing that anchor requires unbelievable intelligence, insight, and wisdom—or, if a speaker doesn’t have those, answers from a really good questionnaire!

I'm honored to be here at the BYU Marriott School of Business. This is a great school named after a great family. Dick Marriott is a good friend, and he is truly an inspiration. He and his family and the great story of that family are guides to how you can achieve success in life. This school was built to engage men and women of faith, character, and professional ability to become outstanding leaders, to advance their knowledge, and to provide service and leadership for their family, for their community, and for their nation.

How many times this semester have you been asked, “What are your plans after you graduate?” Dozens? Thousands? Most of you likely have a plan for your life.

I feel a deep sense of gratitude for Brigham Young University and its noble purpose. It has been at the very root of my conversion to the gospel and has laid the foundation for my private happiness and my professional progress.

The stories I have chosen to tell are not easy for me to share. These are not my proudest moments, and I usually prefer to wear my confident, professional persona for public consumption. However, I have come to appreciate the value of weakness and the strength that comes from acknowledging it. I hope that by sharing a couple of my failures, you can find some appreciation for your own.

Most of you will never have heard of Andrew Skurka, but those who like to backpack will know the name. He was the 2007 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. Andrew circumnavigated the state of Alaska solo, going nearly thirty days without seeing another human being.

You have probably heard the saying, “Knowledge is power.” I want to make a case for ignorance—not the lack of education or stupidity, but simply the lack of certainty.