Newswise — Jim Lovell—the Apollo 13 commander who uttered the memorable phrase, "Houston, we've had a problem," before helping guide his crippled spacecraft back to earth—stood before some 1,390 graduates and guests at Ithaca College's commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17, and told them that they, too, have the ability to solve problems that at first seem unsolvable.
"I have seen what foresight has accomplished in the science of space," Lovell said. "But each of you, pursuing your college education, in your own particular field, in challenging times, can also ... dream and create and make your contribution to the future of mankind in this world."
Lovell warned his audience that every major advancement of civilization has met with extreme resistance, but he urged the new graduates to be inspired by the accomplishments of Socrates, Einstein, Pasteur, and others who stretched possibilities and expanded horizons.
"My mother could hardly believe I circled the moon in 1968, but today my 43-year-old son doesn't think it's any big deal," Lovell said. "Because, after all, we had done it as long as he can remember. Your generation will stand on a higher hill because of the mountains we have climbed."
Lovell recalled how circling the Moon and looking back at Earth changed his outlook on life.
"When viewed in total, the Earth is a spaceship, just like Apollo. We are all the crew of Spaceship Earth. And the crew must learn and live and work together. We must learn to manage the resources of this world with new imagination. The future is up to you."
Ithaca College president Tom Rochon delivered his first commencement remarks since being named to the post last year. He noted that he and his wife had their first child less than two weeks ago. Like a graduation ceremony, Rochon said, the arrival of a child marks the end of one phase of life and the beginning of another, and he offered some observations on how to know if each kind of commencement is going well.
"If you look at the sky and the trees and everything around you, and you feel as if you are seeing these things for the first time, then you are having a successful commencement."
"If you find yourself intellectually and emotionally drawn to subjects that never held much interest for you before, then you are probably having a very good commencement.
"If you find new meaning and deep value in all your relationships with other people, then you just might be having an excellent commencement.
"If you realize that great things come in little packages, and that beauty is found in the smallest of details, then you are on track for a revelatory commencement.
"If you find yourself getting less sleep, but you still feel more alive than ever before, then congratulations. Your commencement is everything a commencement can and should be.
"I wish you each a wonderful and transformative commencement today, with many equally wonderful commencements to come throughout the rest of your lives."
In addition to honoring its new graduates, the college awarded opera singer and teacher Sharon Sweet an honorary doctor of music degree. Perhaps best known for her worldwide performances in the title role of "Aida," Sweet earned her master of music degree from the Ithaca College School of Music in 1978. She has held lead soprano roles in the opera houses of Berlin, Vienna, Zurich, Paris, and Rome as well as at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Since 1999 she has been on the voice faculty of Westminster College.
Broadcast quality video of the commencement ceremony, including Jim Lovell's address, is available.
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