May 2000 College Graduation Speach

Hey, I'm Justin Shank, but
that could be a misnomer
Cause most people that know me
just call me by Homer

They've asked me to speak
to you all here tonight
so I'll take up 3 minutes
and give you insight

on my life for 4 years
and the things I have done
the good and the bad
the boring and the fun.

My GC experience
has taught me to learn
not only in classes
but everywhere that I turn.

I came to this campus
along with you all
and I had a 3 person room
on Yoder First hall

I wasn't naïve
just a little bit young
but I'm sure there were people
who thought I was quite dumb

But, I scored a great job
that wasn't too hard
I worked Saturday mornings
as a GC security Guard

When I came to GC
math seemed my forte
but then I took calculus
and had no time to play

so I decided that an
Art Major was the direction for me
and I've learned quite a bit
from Marvin, Jon, and Judy

I pulled some good grades
though I partied a lot
I managed to keep up
though studious I was not.

But one night in jail
taught me the lesson I would need
that irresponsibility
would not help me succeed

SST called my name
as my second year started
so I boarded the bus
and for Costa Rica departed

I learned to speak Spanish
in the capital of San Jose
then our unit went to Nicaragua
where for service I stayed

I realized a lot
about the meaning of riches
when I walked down the street
and saw people sleeping in ditches

When I returned to the states
I had a new view
I started working harder
and I grew up some too.

I was hired as a coach
for a kids soccer team
it was a whole lotta fun
though winning was only a dream

I also held a job on
the LaCasa construction crew
I helped build 10 new houses
and remodeled several too.

I've influenced sarcasm
with those guys from K2
I gave smamounts
and they gave you goooood

I spent my last May term
studying Theology
traveling the countryside
and staying in Guatemala City

I travelled some afterwards
to see all of the sights
and what Hurricane Mitch
destroyed in several nights

I volunteered for a month
to work with MCC
and help with the building of
a Latin American Seminary.

I've had friends get married
and a couple that have died
I've laughed with them all
and with a few I have cried

I've spent the last year
living just down the street
with the boys of Fire House
who are so cool and so sweet

To broaden my horizons
I gave all clases a chance
Biology, Sociology
Bib. Lit. and folk dance

I've studied the works of
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
and read the philosophy of
Madelaine L'Engle

I've piddled with radio
announcing some sports
and also some music
and things of that sort

I'm on Record staff
though it's a minor position
putting the Record on the internet
is my weekly mission

I'm an intermural sports junkie
I play all that I can
and in B league basketball
my team's the best in the land

I've seen fingers chopped off
and trains get derailed
I was around for the kegger
for which Shuba got nailed

I've seen an Aerosmith concert
I've performed in Kick Off
I've sang Jimmy Buffet
and I've slept in a loft

I've been through power outages
hail storms and blizzards
as well as the LBGA controversy
that's got you all by the gizzards

I've eaten the food
that they serve in the rot
and survived on just coffee
more often than not.

through 4 years of college
I've spent my time growing
though so has the bill
that I will soon end up owing

And in my years at GC
I've gotten quite wise
and I realize that my friendships
are the thing I most prize

so if there's one thing to remember
before you all leave
it's to keep track of the relationships
that you've got up your sleeve

I've been working my butt off
to prepare my senior art show
April 9 is the opening
I hope you can go.

One thing to remember
and for me it's quite key
that on May 21st
I will get my degree.