By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
In a bid to be memorable, state Sen. Ron Jelinek talked about the Guinness record for parachuting at Southwestern Michigan College's 40th Commencement Saturday.
"Do we really need to know the record for the most parachute jumps from an airplane in 24 hours is 534?" Jelinek asked. "While many of us dream of being on 'Jeopardy,' where random facts would be useful, it's not necessary to know what Jennifer Aniston wore to her first awards show."
Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, whose 21st District encompasses all of Cass and Berrien counties and most of Van Buren County, is serving his second four-year Senate term after six years in the House and 30 years of teaching for River Valley. He chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.
He earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural education from Michigan State University and a master's degree in science education from Western Michigan University.
"I said yes in a moment of weakness" when invited by SMC President Dr. David M. Mathews. "I couldn't very well turn down such an honor from a good friend," Jelinek said.
"However, it dawned on me later that day that I had to write a speech. It couldn't be any old speech. This should be an inspirational speech. Something special and magical. A speech that would stick with every graduate and propel them down the path to success. Then I thought, who was I kidding? What graduate actually listens to and remembers commencement speeches? Your brains are thinking about where you're going to dinner to celebrate" and "when do I get to take this itchy cap off?"
Brains' capacities to fill with knowledge have limits, he said.
"Information that matters to you the most," such as their career field. "When you step off this campus, you're not done learning. You'll learn something new every day – software, a machine, how to cook a turkey, scuba diving, the history of Zimbabwe or how we man the international space station. What you learn every day is up to you. If the facts aren't important to you, they go in one ear and out the other. However, part of the information will be tucked away in your brain."
Jelinek said their first day on a job would mean being "bombarded" with details. "By the end of it your brain is swirling, trying to remember everything," including where the bathroom is located.
"If you're like me," Jelinek said, "you'll forget things until you've been on the job a few days. You'll need to pick out a few critical details to remember that matter to you the most … discard or tuck away. The older you get, the worse it gets" trying to "decipher" hundreds of thousands of "tidbits" from a "constant barrage of information."
As a teacher, Jelinek had to learn the names of more than 100 new students each fall. As a legislator, it's the ins and outs of hundreds of bills, plus names of colleagues, lobbyists, staff members and constituents.
"It's not just about remembering someone's name," Jelinek said, "but that they remember me as well. Good impressions go a long way. A trick is to find out more about the person than just their name, so you have an association" that leads to another favorable impression at a subsequent encounter.
Acronyms also help jog Jelinek's memory, such as HOMES for the names of the Great Lakes. "Before they kicked Pluto out," he added, "you could recite the names of the planets in order by remembering the phrase, My Very Elegant Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas.
"Let yourself learn and the possibilities will be endless," the senator suggested. "Be open to new ideas. Be willing to let someone tell you what they think is important. Always remember, you are in charge of what you learn and what you tuck away. Will you remember everything I said here today? Probably not. I'd like to think I've given you good advice, but I know that what I've said might not mean anything to you. You'll surely need the space in your brain for information that matters to you most. I would be willing to bet, however, that most of you will walk out of here today and go ask a friend, 'Did you know that someone parachuted from an airplane 534 times in 24 hours?' "
Jelinek said an estimated 80 percent of U.S. high school graduates enroll in college, but more than 600,000 drop out each year.
"Let it soak in as you accept your diploma," he said. "You have accomplished what 600,000 of your peers could not. You have earned a college degree … the benefits of this accomplishment are just beginning. It is a start of a higher quality of life for you and your families. College graduates are known for increased salaries and wealth and improved standards of living, enhanced buying power and more hobbies and leisure activities. Having a degree also opens the door to further educational opportunities. Forty percent of SMC graduates transfer immediately to a four-year college or university."
Chairman Dr. Fred L. Mathews introduced the Board of Trustees, including Vice Chairman Keith McKenzie of Marcellus, Secretary Jan Kairis of Edwardsburg, Treasurer Carole Tate of Van Buren County's Hamilton Township, Trustee Paul File of LaGrange Township, Trustee Tom Jerdon of Dowagiac and Trustee Bill White of Jones.
Mathews also recognized three distinguished guests, state Rep. Neal Nitz, R-Baroda, and County Commissioners Johnie Rodebush, D-Howard Township, and Gordon Bickel Sr., R-Porter Township.
Mathews talked about the true college emblem, which is not the pylons outside the Dale A. Lyons Building or the "No Limits" logo.
It promises "knowledge for all. It is simple, but not simplistic," Mathews said. "It boils the college mission down to three words. What a great message and what a great goal. Knowledge for all – not just for the elite or the best and brightest, even though SMC has an abundance of the brightest and best. SMC has an open-door policy to all who want education and a career. SMC does not, as many private and public universities do, pride ourself on student rejections. At SMC we take pride in accepting students and in student successes, which are in the top 10 percent of community colleges in this nation by objective data. Knowledge for all. Success for all. That is Southwestern Michigan College."