'Commit to the Journey, Not to the Outcome'

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Posted on May 6, 2018

Alice Jackson

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Commencement speakers at the University of South Alabama on Saturday urged new graduates to strive for achievement no matter how overwhelming the obstacle and to focus on the best road for themselves during their life journey.

More than 2,200 degrees were awarded during Spring Commencement, which was held at the Mitchell Center over two ceremonies.

Dr. Tyler Sexton, an internationally recognized motivational speaker known for overcoming a childhood diagnosis of cerebral palsy to become a successful pediatrician specializing in hyperbaric medicine, spoke at the morning ceremony. He completed his pediatric residency at South in 2010, and he鈥檚 now chair of pediatrics, wound care and hyperbaric medicine at Singing River Hospital System in Pascagoula, Miss.

Applause from students and guests interrupted Sexton repeatedly as he shared recollections of his experiences and personal fortitude to overcome his disability鈥檚 challenges.

鈥淓arly in my college career when I told one of my advisers that I wanted to be a doctor, he said 鈥榶ou鈥檙e going to have to find another career.鈥� I said okay, and I found another adviser,鈥� Sexton said. 鈥淵ou have to remember that the spirit is more important than a broken body.鈥�

鈥淵ou have to remember that the spirit is more important than a broken body.鈥�

Sexton and his mother have co-written a book, 鈥淕od Bless Those Little Legs,鈥� about growing up with a disability. He has been the subject of stories by ABC-TV鈥檚 鈥�20/20,鈥� 鈥淭he 700 Club,鈥� 鈥淭he God Squad,鈥� 鈥淗our of Power,鈥� 鈥淭he Helpline,鈥� and 鈥淔ocus on the Family.鈥�

鈥淚f you live by everybody else鈥檚 approval, you鈥檒l die by their rejection,鈥� Sexton said, adding that he was often ridiculed because of his disability. And, he urged the graduates to do whatever it takes to overcome impossible roadblocks on the path to achievement.

鈥淵ou need to do the hard work and have a good attitude because that鈥檚 what it takes,鈥� Sexton advised. 鈥淟earn that, and then I want you to forever chase your dreams.鈥�

Bettye Maye, long-time educator, member of South鈥檚 Board of Trustees for 24 years and a 鈥渄edicated South fan,鈥� addressed the afternoon graduates with thoughts based on the popular poem 鈥淭he Road Not Taken鈥� by Robert Frost.

Maye, who was also a two-term member of the board of directors of the Alabama Education Association and the first African-American associate professor at the University of West Alabama, likened today鈥檚 news headlines to the poem, calling them 鈥渢he symbolic headlines you see at the fork in the road.鈥�

She challenged them to consider whether or not they 鈥渨ant to be that someone who wants to makes a difference鈥� when they reach the road鈥檚 fork.

Urging them to live a life filled with integrity, Maye added, 鈥淒irect your life in some direction, even if it isn鈥檛 perfect,鈥� she said. 鈥淵our choice of the road will make you the foundation of an even greater America. Commit to the journey and not to the outcome.鈥�

鈥淒irect your life in some direction, even if it isn鈥檛 perfect.鈥�

Finally, she reminded them that a life has only limited time.

鈥淒on鈥檛 waste it trying to live someone else鈥檚 life. Make a difference on your journey. Take action,鈥� she urged. 鈥淎nd, will you take the road that will make a difference? I鈥檓 confident that you will.鈥�

 

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