I can see no higher goal or more noble pursuit than building a family. In our society, the importance of family has degraded to a nice but unnecessary component to our way of life. It is OK to distance yourself from those who brought you into the world—at least that is what the rugged spirit of individualism ingrained in our society will tell you. Today, the metrics of success that are laid before us consist of wealth, status, and power. Certainly, we all can at least acknowledge that while we may be poor in material means, we may be rich in that we have a family that cares for us. But, who among us still believes this when the electric and rent have to be paid, the children are hungry, and food is scarce?
That may offer little comfort to a family whose sustenance relies on a welfare subsidy provided by the state. A successful family in the terms I have suggested even may seem contrary to the images we see on television and the focus of the media. Where does the balance lie? The core of our existence begins and end, with the family; we must never forget this. There is no more admirable a person then one who raises a family; do not let that be diminished, even though there may be no reward, material compensation, or even so much as a thank you. With that said, there is no greater opportunity to thank those who have made your Rensselaer education possible than this weekend, as we extend our campus to our families during Family Weekend.
Take this time to think for a moment about what your parents have done to make it possible for you to attend such a prestigious institution. They have made possible a path less taken, by those with a higher calling branded with a mark—a mark leaving an indelible impression of Rensselaer upon our lives.
Thank them for the eighteen years they spent developing an individual who, upon graduation, will have the world at their fingertips, with options many of our parents could only dream of. Thank them for the sacrifices that they have made to send you to Rensselaer, the second job they had to pick up, the delayed retirement they have accepted, or the second mortgage that they took to finance your education.
For the families that have made the sacrifice, there is indeed something we can give in return. A hundred years from now nobody will ever remember how much money was in their bank account, what kind of car they drove, or how many people they managed in their division. What will exist in small part are the people that they have created and the impact that we have on this world.
