Victor Tong's 1993 Commencement Speech at the University of Minnesota
Mr. Victor Tong won the Student Commencement Speaker Award and graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Minnesota.
Speech was Published at：
Minnesota Technolog
September/October 1993 • University of Minnesota • Vol 74, No.1
Building a Better World
Greetings!
I'm honored to be up here addressing all of you, and I promise to keep it short. So keep all the rotten tomatoes and eggs for someone else.
You probably saw the large replica of our world on the Northrop Plaza (at the University of Minnesota). That project is called Building a New World. As graduates, we are now entering this new world of fast-paced technological advancement. Our challenge is to make the world a better place. What can we do to insure this? To excel on an individual level is not enough anymore. We must strive for cooperation on a global scale.
This goal will require much long term vision as well as an understanding of cultural diversity. We can take examples of progress from corporations such as 3M, Honeywell, Hewlett Packard, and Andersen Consulting. By forming alliances across international boundaries, these companies are working to unite global markets. By promoting cooperation as well as competition, their global vision contributes to their success. Technology is what has made these changes possible. Political and national boundaries are becoming less important as multinational corporations expand. We cannot allow cultural differences to interfere with this progress.
At the U we've already been exposed to a great deal of cultural diversity. We know it's not always easy to understand the English used by some of our foreign TA's. Some of you might even have trouble understanding my accent, but I'm working on it!! We persevere because what we have to say is more important than how we say it. We must carry this attitude with us into our work places.
In IT sometimes we tend to focus on the formulas and technology while neglecting some important real-world issues. Just the fact that we are all here together proves that we can thrive in a diverse environment, but we need to be aware of others' opinions and viewpoints. I heard that there used to be a class called Personality 101 for IT students. I believe this class could teach us scientists to be more sensitive -- a useful thing. However, there's more to sensitivity than just being approachable.
The world is run by real people, not by machines. To survive in a multicultural society we need to be sensitive and open to people from all walks of life and all corners of the earth. The world is a lot more complicated than solving some of the multivariable Shroedinger's differential equations. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: "We have guided missiles and misguided men." As countless historical lessons have shown, technology itself, does not always benefit human kind. When you work on your future projects and inventions, I'd like to remind all of you to consider the importance of humanity, society, ethics, environment, and multiculturalism.
So, my fellow graduates, take pride in your accomplishments thus far. Making it through IT isn't easy -- from all-night study sessions to frustrating lab projects, to dealing with wisecracks about our status as IT nerds!
As we begin this next stage of our journey, exploring new horizons and tackling new challenges, we can be confident that we've received top notch training at this fine school. The Institute of Technology has just produced another fine graduating class of future chief engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, corporate founders, and CEO's. Now we have all the knowledge and aspirations. But all the wonderful plans are just empty dreams without proper execution. Before I go, I'd like to share with you an ancient Chinese saying that my father taught me before I came to the US for school: "A journey of ten thousand miles begins with the first step." Let's take that first step, and begin building a better world!
Thank you very much, and good luck!
About Victor Tong:
Victor Tong, who graduated with a double major in Physics and Electrical Engineering, participated in two undergraduate research opportunities program projects, won several scholarships and participated in numerous IT clubs and academic societies.
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