{"id":566525,"date":"2010-05-17T10:08:20","date_gmt":"2010-05-17T14:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.case.edu\/case-news\/2010\/05\/17\/commencement2010"},"modified":"2010-05-17T10:39:44","modified_gmt":"2010-05-17T14:39:44","slug":"katie-couric-encourages-class-of-2010-to-find-their-passion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/566525","title":{"rendered":"Katie Couric Encourages Class of 2010 to Find Their Passion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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More than 1,700 members of Case Western Reserve University\u2019s Class of 2010 received headline advice from news anchor Katie Couric during yesterday\u2019s commencement convocation. <\/p>\n

The anchor of CBS Evening News with Katie Couric<\/em> infused her commencement address with bits of humor and references to local hangouts such as the Jolly Scholar and Tommy\u2019s while encouraging the newly-minted graduates to work hard, take chances and persevere at the things they felt were important. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve spent four long years, and in some cases even more, pouring your hearts into your studies, squirreled away in one of those little cubicles at KSL or the law or med school libraries cramming for that big test,\u201d Couric reminded the graduates, along with their families and friends, of how much effort they\u2019d put into their studies. <\/p>\n

Couric said it was \u201cnot exactly a news flash\u201d that the job outlook was still less than rosy. \u201cThe good news is you\u2019re graduating from a truly outstanding institution and are well equipped to face the world.\u201d <\/p>\n

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2010 Graduates<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For those still looking for career opportunities, Couric told them to have business cards ready to hand out to potential contacts, and to set up a professional email account and answering machine message. \u201cNo, \u2018yo, what\u2019s up dude?\u2019\u201d she told the audience as they laughed. <\/p>\n

Couric stressed the importance of networking and having the \u201cchutzpah you need to do something that impresses.\u201d She shared the story of her first major break in television news, where she talked her way into meeting an executive producer by explaining how their family members knew each other. Although he was flummoxed by her bold move, the producer moved her resume to the top of the pile. <\/p>\n

She also encouraged the Class of 2010 to be realistic. \u201cI\u2019m not a subscriber to the helicopter parent refrain of \u2018honey, you can do whatever you want to do.\u2019 I really don\u2019t think you can. You have to take a good, hard look at your strengths, your weaknesses, your skills and your shortcomings. But most of all, your passions.\u201d <\/p>\n

Although hard work and perseverance might bring material success, those traits \u201cwon\u2019t bring you a life that is truly rich,\u201d Couric explained. \u201cFor that, you have to believe in a higher purpose.\u201d She found hers when her late husband, Jay Monahan, was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer in 1997. His battle inspired Couric to use her position in broadcast news to help millions. She demystified colonoscopies by having the procedure done live on television; the result was a significant increase in the number of people getting colonoscopies, dubbed the Couric effect. <\/p>\n

Couric has since created the Stand Up 2 Cancer initiative, which has committed $85 million to fund scientific collaborations. In addition, she helped launch the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance has raised awareness and funding for colon cancer research, including research conducted by Sanford Markowitz, professor and researcher of cancer and genetics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine<\/a>. <\/p>\n

She toured Markowitz\u2019s lab on Saturday to learn more about his groundbreaking research. <\/p>\n

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2010 Graduates<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Couric also contacted people she admired to share ideas with Case Western Reserve\u2019s Class of 2010. Some of them offered the following advice: <\/p>\n

Former Vice President Al Gore: \u201cChoose the hard right over the easy wrong.\u201d <\/p>\n

Michael J. Fox: \u201cAs much as we can, it\u2019s helpful to be in a in place of gratitude. None of us is entitled to anything. We get what we get, not because we want it or we deserve it, but because we earn it, we respect it, and only if we share it, do we keep it.\u201d <\/p>\n

Queen Rania of Jordan: \u201cIf you\u2019re too big for a small job, you\u2019re too small for a big one.\u201d <\/p>\n

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone: \u201cThink about what is valuable before thinking about what is profitable. And know that there\u2019s compound interest in helping others. Start early.\u201d <\/p>\n

General Ray Odierno, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq: \u201cI have learned that greatness is never found in possessions, power, position or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service and character.\u201d <\/p>\n

Prior to her commencement speech, which received a standing ovation, Couric earned a special recognition from the university. <\/p>\n

Case Western Reserve President Barbara R. Snyder presented Couric, along with humanitarian and scholar M. Cherif Bassiouni, and the Grammy-award winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, with honorary degrees. President Snyder also presented philanthropists Milton and Tamar Maltz with the President\u2019s Award for Visionary Achievement. <\/p>\n

More than 1,925 degrees were conferred at ceremonies held throughout the day. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More than 1,700 members of Case Western Reserve University\u2019s Class of 2010 received headline advice from news anchor Katie Couric during yesterday\u2019s commencement convocation. The anchor of CBS Evening News with Katie Couric infused her commencement address with bits of humor and references to local hangouts such as the Jolly Scholar and Tommy\u2019s while encouraging […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4251,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-566525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/566525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4251"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=566525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/566525\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=566525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=566525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=566525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}