Blue Raiders and their loved ones gathered at MTSU’s Murphy Center to celebrate the beginning of post-grad life. 

MTSU awarded over 1,600 degrees in two separate ceremonies on Saturday. 

Saturday morning 

The day of tears, laughter, and celebration kicked off at 9 a.m., honoring students from the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences and the College of Education.

President of Roane State Community College and MTSU alum Chris Whaley delivered the Saturday morning commencement speech, emphasizing commitment, diversity and teamwork. 

“Being a blue raider means supporting each other,” Whaley said. “At MTSU, teamwork is not optional.” 

Whether it’s finding a parking spot near the Rec Center after 10 a.m. or tracking down a classmate for a group project, Whaley said MTSU students learn these essential life skills simply by attending the university. 

“You don’t need to be scared of the real world; the real world should be scared of you,” Whaley said.

Whaley emphasized the graduate’s investment in their education, noting that countless things occur in one minute.

“Time is something we don’t get back,” Whaley said. “We don’t get do-overs.”

The average American lives 41 million minutes, and graduates invested approximately 324,000 minutes of their time toward their degree, a wise effort, Whaley said. 

“So the natural question is: How do I spend those remaining minutes,” said Whaley. 

There is no correct answer for these graduates, Whaley said, but helping their community is a great place to start.

“Make being a spectator the exception and not the rule,” Whaley said. “Your community needs you.”

Whaley added that diversity in those communities is a considerable strength. 

“Our differences are not weaknesses, they don’t have to divide us and they certainly don’t have to cause us to turn on one another,” Whaley said. “… Stay bold, stay kind, stay true blue and please return your library books; they know where you live.”

Saturday afternoon 

The 2 p.m. ceremony recognized students of Jennings A. Jones College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts, Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment and the University College. 

Brady Cooper, a senior pastor at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, drew on his 27 years of pastoral experience to deliver a convocation address.

Cooper greeted the crowd of graduates, imploring them not to compare themselves to one another. The pastor noted that many of them were part of the first generation to grow up with social media, which can exacerbate comparison, especially in post-grad life.  

“Comparison is the enemy of contentment,” Cooper said.

He then reminded graduates to “watch your wake,” connecting the wake boats leave behind to the wake “our life leaves behind.” It is crucial not only to look forward to the future, but also to be mindful of the past, Cooper said.

“Our character produces our wake, and our wake doesn’t lie. You are 100% responsible for your wake,” Cooper said. “Your wake is either going to propel people or paralyze people.”

The pastor concluded by telling grads to “remember to keep your fork.” This saying originated from Cooper’s grandson, who loved desserts and would tell his family to keep their forks after dinner in anticipation of the sweets to follow. 

Cooper explained a person can live weeks without food, days without water and minutes without oxygen, “but not a second without hope.” 

“Hope anchors you through the ups and downs of life,” Cooper said. “Keep your fork because the best is yet to come.”