EMERSON ADDRESSES GRADUATES

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson told Southeast Missouri State University graduates Saturday that they'll be disappointed if they fail, but doomed if they don't try.

"In America, we have choices," Emerson said. "We can choose to go to college and get degrees, then get a job and pursue our dreams. The choice of education will enable you to have many more opportunities that you would not have had otherwise."

Emerson, the Republican 8th District representative, gave the 124th commencement address to a packed house of graduates and their friends and family at the Show Me Center.

There were 925 students who received sheepskins Saturday afternoon during commencement exercises. Of those, 845 were undergraduates and 80 were graduate students. Thirteen of the students were recognized for their 4.0 grade point average.

During her speech, which she promised wouldn't be about politics or lofty ideals, Emerson said freedom is to be appreciated. She recounted a trip she took in 1968 to the Soviet Union and other communist nations.

"Those countries had no freedom whatsoever," she said. "We were escorted everywhere by armed guards and we couldn't talk to people on the street. I don't like being told what I can't do. But freedom in this country wasn't free, it was bought and paid for by the veterans."

This weekend marks Emerson's 25th anniversary since she graduated from college and she shared a list of 25 things that she has learned since she graduated.

"Number one: Nobody remembers what commencement speakers say," she said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Other lessons Emerson said she learned were that people don't change, to think positively, to pay your dues and to put people before politics.

"And you can't act like a skunk without somebody getting wind of it," she said. "You've got two ears and one mouth. Use them in that proportion and you'll go far."

Her final piece of advice was for the graduates not to take themselves too seriously.

"Life is not always serious," she said. "It can be fun if you don't take it seriously and it's even more fun if you don't take yourselves seriously. Life is short so just go for it."

Southeast has graduated more than 46,000 students in its 124-year history. Leading the class of undergraduates are 13 students with perfect grade point averages of 4.0, 13 honors scholars and five students earning academic distinction in their majors.

The honor scholars had to complete senior research projects to qualify for the recognition. Area students graduating with perfect grade point averages: accounting majors Michelle Landewee of Leopold and Cassandra Wilson of Grand Tower, Ill., early childhood education major Michelle Orrell of Jackson, and psychology major Nicole Renick and philosophy major Christopher Robertson, both of Cape Girardeau.