Lillian Lincoln Lambert

My husband and I just returned from an exciting week in Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, MO.  My primary purpose for the trip was to be a keynote speaker at the Economic Empowerment Summit at Harvest Church where the graduating class from its Joseph Business School was honored.  The school selects and trains entrepreneurs in practical aspects of starting and running a business. Based on principles taught in the church. It was a great experience where I met many new friends and entrepreneurs.

Why travel so far and not take advantage of other things in the area by adding a few extra days to the trip? Fortunately my sister-in-law lives in KC and she is very involved in the community.  We arrived in time to attend a reception and book signing for Terry McMillan who is promoting her new book “Getting to Happy’. What an interesting person!

It is amazing how we go to college with people and seem to not have much in common and years later can connect and share so much!  My husband and I had dinner with two classmates who were in my section at Harvard Business School and their spouses.  One I had seen a year ago at the 40^th class reunion, saw again when I was in KC in April and again on this trip – three times in one year after 40 years of no contact. The other one I had not seen since graduation in 1969. After all these years there was so much to talk about that there was not a quiet moment. We promised to stay in touch.

The trip ended with my sister-in-law entertaining friends at her home on Sunday afternoon. This gave me the opportunity to get to know some new friends in greater depth.  My sister-in-law likes any excuse to entertain and I promised to give her more excuses in the future.

As we enter into this new school year, there is excitement for students, parents, teachers and school administrators. Many high school seniors face this year with enthusiasm and great anticipation.  At the end of the year they can exert their independence when they leave the comfort of their homes where parents have more control over their lives. Many parents are hopefully that their child will be headed to college and they will be pushing to get the college application completed before the deadline. How many parents ask “Is my child ready for college?

            For some students a year or two break between high school and college can be beneficial.  I speak from experience – a four-year break. My break, however, was not a planned break whereby I was preparing to go later. When I finished high school I did not think I needed a college education. Since my parents had no money to pay for college, I felt free to conquer the world on my own terms. I got my first “degree” from the “school of hard knocks” before realizing I needed a college education.  Finally, I entered a four-year college followed by two years for my graduate degree. For those six years I was very focused; something that was probably unlikely for me immediately after high school.

            If your child is ready for college, that’s great. If not, a planned gap can be very beneficial and does not mean the student is doomed for failure. It can relieve the stress of the application process when the student does apply. The student can take some courses at a community college; do some traveling and take time to explore career options. A great deal of maturity can occur with a carefully laid out plan. I urge parents and students to make the decision that best fits the youngster.

The season of college graduations for spring 2010 has ended. What an exciting time for graduates, family and friends!

            For me this year was very active, crammed into a few days from Thursday to Sunday. As a member of the Board of Visitors at Virginia Commonwealth University, I participated in its commencement exercises which were held on Saturday morning. Commencement was preceded by two days of intense board meetings.  However, a couple of tasty dinners were included where board members had the opportunity to meet award recipients.

            This year’s commencement speaker was quite a highlight. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development gave graduates a challenge to remember the virtues of the human mind in this technological world.  Her Highness was instrumental in the establishment of Education City, the innovative campus in Doha, Qatar that hosts the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts along with a cluster of other universities involved in higher education and research. Commencement was followed by a reception luncheon, attended by prior and current board members, award recipients and many friends of the University.

            The university-wide, morning activity was followed by specific school exercises later in the afternoon. I took part in the School of Business event and smiled as graduates proudly strutted across the stage to receive their degrees. I had the opportunity to present degrees to my granddaughter who received her BA in business and my niece who received her Masters in Business.  Because of the full day of activities, I was too tired to attend the evening celebrations, but I forced myself.

            The next day had me on the road to Washington, DC for graduation of a niece from American University School of Law.  The parents of the graduate hosted a delicious dinner following graduation which was a great treat before heading back to Richmond.  Arriving home about 8 PM, I reflected on the events of the last few days and was joyful as I remembered the exuberance of the graduates as they looked forward to facing their new world of both challenges and opportunities.  I wish them well!