Lander scientist calls on graduates to ‘keep learning, improving as a society’

A scientist who struggled to write papers in college told graduates at Lander University’s 168th Commencement on Wednesday (Dec. 13) not be discouraged by obstacles or failure because “the first draft is not the final draft.”

Commencement speaker Dr. Emily Prince, an associate professor of biology and Lander’s 2023 Distinguished Professor of the Year, said papers awash in red ink during her college years led her to understand that people aren’t expected to do things well, or even perfectly, the first time.

“We all have to start somewhere, but we shouldn’t stop after that first attempt,” Prince said. “Even when feedback hurts our feelings, we learn what we need to improve, and then we do it again.”

Prince was the featured speaker at the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ceremonies in the Finis Horne Arena as Lander conferred bachelor’s and master’s degrees to 390 bachelor and master’s degree graduates.

True to Prince’s challenge to keep moving forward, Leslie Horne McKesson, of Greenwood, has revised her career by earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing through Lander’s R.N. to B.S.N. online nursing program.

After completing an associate’s degree program in nursing 14 years ago, McKesson started a family and attempted to return to college for a bachelor’s degree a couple of times only to find that the “timing just wasn’t right.”

A wife and mother of children ages 8, 11 and 13, McKesson was determined that her children “see ‘Mom’ do something good,” and she came to Lander to make her dream a reality.

“Not only will I be able to grow in my nursing career, but my kids get to see me graduate college. I hope that proves to them that we can all do hard things,” said McKesson, who earned President’s List honors for her academic achievements.

She praised the University’s online program with helping her reach her goals. “I was concerned about not having the ability to meet with my professors in person, but each professor has been very quick in their response time when I had questions.”

For Honors College graduate David Floyd, an accident in a chemistry lab led him to change course and pursue a major in mathematics. That switch gave Floyd, the recipient of the Honors Medal and Alpha Chi Medal and a Mathematics Discipline Award, the opportunity to conduct research last year at Auburn University on plasma filaments in a super magnet.

Much like Prince, who felt frustration over the revised drafts of papers, Floyd admitted he encountered challenges when professors “pushed me hard in the right direction.”

While “that push was painful most of the time,” Floyd, of Greenwood, is looking forward with optimism. He is applying to study for a graduate degree in physics. “I want to do research in the field of astronomy and physics,” he said.

Prince called on the graduates to “keep learning and improving as a society. We can make things better. I have confidence in you and in your generation. In so many ways you’re smarter, harder working, and most importantly you’re kinder, than students were when I graduated from college. I believe that you can make your draft of society better than the ones that have come before.”

Emmanuel Dula, of Spartanburg, already has embodied another of Prince’s pleas to the Class of 2023 to ‘keep making improvements and to keep getting better.”

The exercise science major was a 16-year-old student at Dorman High School when his father died. The dream of completing an education and having a successful career were goals his father had for him, Dula said, and he is planning to continue his studies to become a physical therapist. “Today is an accomplishment for my family and me,” he said. “It’s what my Dad wanted.”

McKesson, an infection prevention specialist at Self Regional Healthcare, said she believes her degree is inspiring for her family and her career. “I can show my kids that hard work truly pays off,” she said. “Now that I have my bachelor’s degree, I would love to learn more about the leadership part of nursing. I love working in my current role, but I will have more opportunities for leadership if I choose.”

For more on the commencement exercises, please visit Lander University’s website at www.lander.edu.