“What does it take to lead a fulfilling life?”
Duke asked faculty, staff and alumni to share advice with the graduating class. Here are 14 of their responses, illustrated by Duke Today designer Jonathan Lee.
杜克大学请求该校教职员工和校友向即将毕业的学生提出临别建言,《杜克今日》的设计师强纳森.李把14个建议寥寥几笔就描绘了出来,让人一目了然。
1. “Pay close attention. This is your life.”
—Professor Deborah Pope,
Department of English
2. “People always obsess over big decisions(e.g., which job/ position to accept), but really, tomorrow will always be a blur. Plan with calmness, and then take the leap in the direction you think is best, knowing that there will rarely be a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ but just a choice that leads to the next steps of life.”
—Professor Mohamed Noor,
Department of Biology
3. “You will get the more satisfaction about the relationships you form than from the things you acquire.”
—Joel Rosch,
Center For Child and Family Policy
4. “Respect people over job titles. Everyone’s life has meaning.”
—Stacy Torian,
Graduate School Admissions
5. “Learn to reframe rejection. Whether you’re working towards a leadership position or building a company, people will frequently tell you no. Instead of seeing it as a shutdown, look at it as an opportunity to figure out why. Are you asking the wrong person? Have you not yet demonstrated you can handle the new responsibility? Over time, ‘no’ becomes just another opportunity to wait, learn and try again.”
—Kathryn Minshew ’08,
Co-founder of The Muse
6. “Find a place where you can be challenged. Ask yourself:Am I proud of my work?”
—Katie Smith,
Career Center
7. “Don’t be afraid to diverge from your ‘plan.’ Embrace ambiguity. The uncertain and what may appear high risk in relationships, jobs and life is usually very cool and worthwhile.”
—Christopher Simmons,
Office of Federal Relations
8. “As you move forward into the next stage of your life, do not forget to stop and look back to discover the meaning of where you have been. That will help you better understand who you are, where you may be heading, and how you can get there.”
—David Steinbrenner,
Postdoctoral Services
9. “Never confuse being educated with being smart.”
—Michael Evans,
School of Nursing
10. “Be generous to other people.”
—Nia-Malika Henderson ’96,
National political reporter for The Washington Post
11. “Read outside of your chosen field, read broadly, read enthusiastically. Creativity is a necessary life skill and some inspirations will come from unexpected sources.”
—Jan Little,
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
12. “Be true to yourself. Be willing to learn and to be coachable.”
—Prim Siripipat ’03,
ESPN Commentator
13. “Give back—serve from a sense of gratitude.”
—Sue Wasiolek,
Dean of Students
14. “Stick with it.”
—Dorothy Kitchen,
Duke University String School
https://today.duke.edu/showcase/mmedia/features/living_a_good_life_2014/