Character

Noah Riner, freshman class pres of Dartmouth, issued the convocation address. You won't believe it.

You've been told that you are a special class. A quick look at the statistics confirms that claim: quite simply, you are the smartest and most diverse group of freshmen to set foot on the Dartmouth campus. You have more potential than all of the other classes. You really are special.

But it isn't enough to be special. It isn't enough to be talented, to be beautiful, to be smart. Generations of amazing students have come before you, and have sat in your seats. Some have been good, some have been bad. All have been special.

Not bad, yet! He brings his speech to a close with the following:

Character has a lot to do with sacrifice, laying our personal interests down for something bigger. The best example of this is Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." He knew the right thing to do. He knew the cost would be agonizing torture and death. He did it anyway. That's character.

WOW! Faculty and students were shifting in their seats. I'm sure they wouldn't care if he had used Mohammed or Buddha instead of Jesus.

You can read the entire speech here
Riner is definitely a leader, willing to stand for character and his beliefs.

Kerry

Christian Homeschool Curriculum