New Campbell graduates challenged to ‘achieve the unimaginable’

Nearly 200 Arts & Sciences, online students earn degrees in morning commencement service

A Campbell University alumna who knows a thing or two about achieving "the unimaginable" challenged graduates to push beyond what they think is possible during the first of two main campus Spring Commencement ceremonies in Pope Convocation Center Saturday morning.

Retired Lt. Gen. Susan S. Lawrence, a 1979 Campbell graduate, three-star general and the first woman to ever be appointed as chief information officer for the U.S. Army spoke to 191 graduates of Campbell's College of Arts & Sciences and Adult & Online Education - 11 of whom earned a Master of Science in Applied Leadership degree, two earning associates degrees and the remaining 178 a four-year bachelor's degree.

Lawrence's 11-minute speech was reserved, but brilliant. She detailed overcoming her own obstacles in life - losing a loved one in high school, growing up in an Iowa town with few streets and even fewer expectations - to achieve goals she believed to be unimaginable at the time.

"There were days in my career when the goal wasn't to lead. It was simply to endure," she said. "There were moments when I was underestimated. Moments when I questioned myself. Moments when the weight of responsibility felt overwhelming. But unimaginable goals are not achieved by people who never doubt themselves. They are achieved by people who move forward anyway.

"That's the difference. Courage is not about the absence of doubt. It's the decision that something else matters more. And over time, these small, consistent decisions begin to add up. One assignment leads to another, one opportunity opens the door to the next. One risk builds the competence for a bigger one. And then one day, you find yourself standing in a place you never could have described when you began. Not because you planned it perfectly, but because you were willing to grow beyond what you could imagine."

The Class of 2026 includes graduates who have already grown beyond what they could imagine. Shelly Lopez Espinoza of Sanford is the first woman in her family to pursue higher education, and she says she faced moments when the pressure, fear and expectations felt heavy. But she overcame and found her passion in kinesiology and a path that she hopes will lead to a physician assistant program (after a well-deserved gap year).

"I am becoming a confident, purpose-driven and resilient woman in health care who is committed to serving others," she says, " while also continuing to grow and honoring every barrier I've overcome to get here."

Bachelor of Music graduate Mallory Young of Garner stepped out of her comfort zone in her four years at Campbell, singing at several university and community events and performing at her own commencement ceremony Saturday. She says her defining moment at Campbell was conducting the University Choir, hearing her peers bring music to life and confirming her desire to teach music to the next generation.

Her advice to future Campbell students? "Don't be afraid to ask questions. The worst question is the one unasked."

Lawrence said setting unimaginable goals doesn't mean ignoring reality. It doesn't mean chasing titles or recognitions for their own sake.

"The goal is not the position. The goal is making an impact," she said. "When I became a three-star general, it wasn't the stars that mattered. It was the responsibility that came with them. The opportunity to learn, to lead and to serve my country. To create great change that would outlast my time in uniform.

"And when I stepped into the role of CIO, it wasn't about being the first. It was about ensuring I would not be the last. That's the deeper purpose of unimaginable goals. They don't just transform your life. They expand to what's possible for others. Somewhere out there is an 18-year-old who will look at your journey and think, 'If they did it, maybe I can, too.'"

Her challenge to graduates: stop shrinking goals to fit reality, commit to the process and when you reach that unimaginable goal, don't close the door behind you.

"Success is not just about how far you go. It's about how many people can go further than you did."

Student Government Association President Cutler Bryant spoke on behalf of the student body, saying that the question most seniors hear - "What are you going to do after college?" - should instead be, "Who are you going to be?"

"One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Peter, Chapter 4, Verse 10 - as each of you has received a gift, use it to serve one another," Bryant said. "Even if the next steps seem uncertain, there is one thing that is certain. Every one of us has been given a gift by God to serve others. And that is what this University has taught us. Not just how to live successful lives, but how to live successful lives of purpose and meaningful service. And we've already started doing just that. When I look out at our class, I don't just see graduates. I see servant leaders."

The week has marked the first spring commencement cycle for Campbell University's sixth president, Dr. William M. Downs. Downs took office in July of last year, completing his first full academic season this May. In addressing the students Saturday, he called Graduation Day one of the best days of the year and the happiest day at any university.

"Graduation is more formally called commencement, because we know that while turning the page on one chapter, you're all truly beginning a new chapter of life. A life of service. A life of purpose. And a life of continued learning," Downs said. "With this new chapter - this new beginning - your future is bright, your path is clear, and your potential is limitless. The world awaits you, and it is our privilege to be with you and send you off in style.

"As graduates, you'll be Campbell University's legacy to the world. For each and every one of you, we give thanks."

Contributors