May. A time for graduations. A time for celebrations. A rite of passage to the future.
268 students graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health last week. 248 received their Masters’ and 20 received PhDs. Our friend’s PhD is in Epidemiology. By definition, epidemiology is the study (scientific, systematic, and data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global).
The commencement address was given by Dr. Nathan Chomilo, Medical Director for the State of Minnesota’s Medicaid and MinnesotaCare Programs. He asked the students, “What is your reason?” As he gave a brief overview of his own story, he then suggested they base their life’s journey on these concepts:
- Be Curious
- Be Courageous
- Build Community
- Be a Citizen
- Be Intentional
- Be Uncomfortable
I went into that auditorium with trepidation. Not concerned about my health since we were given masks as we entered. It was, after all, the School of Public Health. Sometimes the weariness of the pandemic seems to settle into my soul. There is still an unease in the air. However, on that evening, watching the faces of those 268 graduate students, hearing their names as they walked across the stage, gave me a window into the brightness of the future. The School of Public Health advocates for health equity by researching the challenges in public health regarding structural racism, infectious disease outbreaks, gun violence, and expanding aging population, and a changing climate. Their motto is “Health is a Human Right.” This is the group who will analyze the data and give us recommendations on how to best address the growing concerns of our society. They are excited to begin. Their future. Our future.
3,032 names will be read this weekend as students graduate from Lincoln Public Schools. 3,032 students looking to the future. Several of those graduating are family and friends. Their career choices are nursing, electrical & pneumatics, architectural engineering, and one with a dual major in economics and Spanish. They will receive their diplomas, celebrate, and go in different pathways. All important pathways. They are excited to begin. Their future. Our future.
Isn’t that what we hope for as we watch those graduates walk across the stage? It is hard to know how many times and ways we can say congratulations, good luck and best wishes. Whether we ask them to be curious or courageous or intentional or uncomfortable, I believe they will do all of those things. And they will make our world better. They have seen our country at some of our low points. Many of them have already fought for the right to read, the right to control their own bodies, and for gun control. Already fighting for their future. Our future.
It is also important to remember 19 names being read this week for a different reason. Alexandria. Amerie. Tess. Jose. Miranda. Maite. Makenna. Xavier. Eliana. Layla. Eliahana. Alithia. Jackie. Annabelle. Jailah. Jayce. Uziyah. Nevaeh. Rojelio. 19 children in this country who will never graduate. 19 more children dead from gun violence. More gun violence statistics to be studied and analyzed by the School of Public Health.
Here is the link to our elected officials. https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials Yes, it is time to call or email them so they can explain why they have not passed gun control legislation.
Contacting them is 4 clicks away. It takes about 10 seconds.
- https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
- Select who you want to contact (senator, representative, governor, state legislator)
- Select your state
- Click on “contact” when the webpage appears. You can determine whether you want to call or email.
I am calling to hear their voices explain their political stance on gun control legislation. I don’t want a form letter they have written to their constituents. I want to hear them justify why nothing is being done to control the use of AR-15 rifles and other assault weapons in this country.
If not now, when?
Today’s graduates deserve better from all of us.
The future...or not.
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Thank you for your wonderful essay, and congratulations to your graduate and all who nurtured their successes. “The road ahead” is such a concerning concept. Courage to those who shall lead the way forward. Godspeed.
ReplyDeleteYou have given us a great tool to help our future progress in the right direction. Thank you for sharing such a promising story
ReplyDeleteI commend your detailed call to action!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThank you for some words that express my thoughts these days.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your important words! I have contacted my Government officials by phone.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThank you!
DeleteThank you for this inspiring post.
ReplyDeleteI believe Public Health is one of the great great challenges of our time. Public Health isn’t medical care-it’s prevention focused and creates public, wide-spread cost-free benefits.
It’s a ban on the accessibility of war weapons used to kill the innocent; it’s background checks on those who purchase lethal weapons; it’s meaningful limits on emissions that warm an already heating planet; it’s a reality where everyone breaths clean air and consumes safe water. These are basic human rights and yet they remain elusive. Policies that have to mend, repair, apologize and need our thoughts and prayers are never as effective as policies that prevent tragedy and suffering in the first place.