the chancellor's speech

During the program's orientation lectures, Robert Cummings spoke to our group of roughly 300 American college students. He told us that he prays that we will return to the US as different people. This distinguished, British, cute old professor-type actually got on his knees and clasped his hands together in an effort to show us his true desire for this to happen.

On this note he said that now would be an opportune moment for us to change our name if we don't like it. "For heavens sake don't persist with it," he said.

In a surprising turn, the chancellor went on to tell us we were "citizens of the greatest democracy the world has ever known." He continued to say America is the greatest military power and the greatest economic power in our present time. The world looks to us, obviously not all with admiration, but nonetheless, we are watched.

"As this is the moment when you cannot go unnoticed, make sure you are worth noticing," he remarked.

Education - especially with a perspective outside that of the US - will help us to decide what sort of world we want. We are on the brink of change, he said. A cultural shift is happening now as it happened in the 1960s. Our education abroad will help us mold that change.

As this is the moment when you cannot go unnoticed, make sure you are worth noticing. I quite like this sentiment. I think I'll work to make sure I'm worth it.