UAFS commencement speaker: ‘Life is not fair. Get over it. Get used to it.’

story submitted by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith

Commencement speaker Neal Pendergraft challenged University of Arkansas at Fort Smith graduates during commencement exercises May 8 to "give back" as they make their way into the world.

“Are you willing to help somebody you will never know?" asked Pendergraft, sharing how his parents had provided scholarships for several of those in the audience. "Let me tell you, it catches on, and … it is good for your soul.”

Pendergraft, a member of the UAFS Foundation Board of Directors, is an attorney, entrepreneur, cattle rancher and musician. He said Chancellor Paul B. Beran asked him to speak because he believed Pendergraft could identify with many sitting in Stubblefield Center for the commencement ceremony.

"If you went to college right out of high school and completely blew it, I am one of you," Pendergraft said. "If you worked an untold number of jobs strictly for a paycheck, I am one of you.

"If you thought you found a career and decided you could do better, I am one of you. If you came back to college as an older student, I am one of you. If you had to hold down a job while trying to make A’s so you could dig out of a 1.17 GPA, then I am one of you.

"If you understand that sometimes the only reward for a hard day’s work is that you did the best you could, then I am one of you."

Pendergraft went on to share what he called words of wisdom he accumulated from his true friends and which were developed through years of success and failure.

"Wisdom comes from experience, and experience comes from failure," he said, encouraging graduates to help clean up the "mess" made by others.

"Life is not fair. Get over it. Get used to it."

He advised working hard for goals and not placing blame on parents when making mistakes, which earned Pendergraft spontaneous applause from the audience. He then advised the graduates to learn from their mistakes and go on.

"Learn to listen," he advised. "You might be surprised as to what you hear. If you try, you might hear in the silence a voice in the back of your mind of an old friend from school or a loved one who is now gone, the voices of people who have helped make you who you are."

He keyed in on helping others as an important part of each graduate’s future success.

"When you lay out those goals for your life, please make certain they include helping other people," he said. "A wonderful self-fulfillment comes from helping someone else. … No matter how busy or important you think you are, never hesitate to drop everything you are doing and go help someone in need."

Pendergraft told graduates he and others in attendance were proud of them for what they had accomplished.

"We are all proud that you leave here today with your sails set for success," he said. "You can’t control the winds, but you can always adjust your sails. Leave here today with great pride in your success and remember that each of you, in large and small ways, can make our world a better place."

Chancellor Beran also encouraged the graduates in his remarks.

"Today is indeed a special day for all of you," said Beran, telling graduates that even though they were completing their educations, they were just beginning to learn.

The commencement ceremony held in the Stubblefield Center on the UAFS campus included the awarding of 280 bachelor’s degrees, 248 associate degrees and 44 technical certificates.