Students and Graduates Talk

• QUOTATIONS
• STUDENT POETRY
• GRADUATION SPEECHES AND OTHER STATEMENTS ON COURSE

QUOTATIONS

"I feel like there is a war going on in me. There is the underworld that's pulling at me, that's telling me there's so much to do, so much excitement from moment to moment. But when I read these books, I feel like I'm feeding my brain, and I know there's this other world where people have their lives in order and it's sunlight. I am a little amazed when I go into cafes to read books because I feel that people are looking at me with respect, like they never suspected that I would be capable of not being a loser."

New Brunswick, New Jersey, graduation 2005, left to right, Diana Lebron, Janet Maison, Katherine Talalas

"It's been a life-changing experience. I just got back from the bookstore, where I bought the books I've decided to read this summer. Wuthering Heights, Walden, Siddhartha, Dubliners, Aristotle's Poetics. And Walt Whitman has become my favorite poet, and I was never interested in poetry before. I thought art history was going to be dull, but I loved it. I went to the Chuck Close exhibit three times on my own, and I'm really looking forward to the Impressionist show. Reading Marcus Aurelius has changed how I deal with other people. I have more compassion and patience; I remind myself to stop talking and listen, trying not to be vexed by the little things. You hear about the thirst for knowledge. Well I've had a sip of clear water, and now I'm thirsting for a lot more."

"You know, back in the beginning when you said that all of this reading would change me, I thought to myself, ‘Yeah, well he doesn't come from where I come from.' But now after all these months I can see more what you mean. Last year I got this job at EEOC, and I thought, ‘Well, I have health benefits now, I've got a government job, and I can retire on this! It's almost impossible to lose a government job!' But now after studying all these things I have other thoughts. I don't think I want to do this all of my life. I can see myself doing other things."

New York City, 1998, graduate Maritsa Gonzalez

"Before I found the Clemente Course, my life was heading nowhere very fast. I had dropped out of high school and was in a gang. I felt helpless and powerless to change my life around. I went from a high school drop out to someone who was awarded a full scholarship to attend a school with an outstanding academic reputation."

"There is magic that happens in that room. My perspective on art has changed. Shakespeare has taught me how to think critically. Socrates has taught me how to challenge my own truth. I love history and have a passion for writing. The classroom discussions are rich and full of life. I bring them to the dinner table. My children are curious about what mom does at school. They ask questions. They see me struggling with homework and working toward a goal. I can now support and take part in their education, encourage them to strive. I can be a power of example."

"I don't feel like I'm on the outside of anyone's conversation anymore."

"People feel hopeless when they feel like they don't have the same opportunities as others."

"Two months ago, I didn't know who Socrates and Aristotle were. Now they are enmeshed in my daily life. I can't walk down the street without noticing the architecture or see a display in a store window without thinking, "There is a perfect example of Hellenistic art." I am developing a thirst for further knowledge and education. I have read only one section of Marcus Aurelius, but now I want to read the entire thing."

"People need to be inspired. People need an avenue. The Clemente Course exposes us to things that we can hold on to and remember and that we can pass on and enrich our own lives. It's something beyond getting six credits. It's something that exposes us to things that can help us in other ways."

Michael Randolph Hayden, Poughkeepsie, New York Clemente Course class of 2000, at his graduation from Bard College, 2005

"I would like to have a life of the mind as well as the soul. Right now I have a life of heart and feeling."

"I want you to know that you allowed me to experience a place in the world I had never dreamed of. Your knowledge of the arts and the manner in which you teach allows an individual to see exactly what you are saying. That was the beauty of it all. I walk away with a learning experience that others may not have the opportunity to explore or enjoy. You opened up a brand new world for me."

"What I learned from the example of Socrates before the jury was to look at things in a different way…. Learning philosophy and the learning about the way Socrates lived his own life is really making a dramatic change in my personal life. It may not be seen on the outside, but I feel it inside. My personality, my mind, my point of view have been changed. It feels so good sometimes as if my soul is being cleaned and purified."

"This course has been an inspiration for me to challenge my mind to explore the unknown. What a beautiful journey! I really enjoy discovering the world of art and the challenge of expanding my mind in the world of moral philosophy."

"I like the group, I like the teachers, but most of all I like the discussions about different topics where everyone is free to voice their opinions and I too feel comfortable in voicing mine."

"[The course] has provided me with new skills to critically analyze my world...I have been empowered to question and look beyond the face value of life situations."

"I have gained a new respect for myself and confidence to continue my education. I took great joy in sharing every subject with family and friends. I even forced Hobbes on my co-workers."

"I came in here terrified of writing even a paragraph. The teachers have helped me feel more confident and gain self-esteem and develop my writing skills."

"I am a changed person. I find that the discourse inside a college class always moves me beyond who I was. The Bard Clemente Course has been a very important part of my educational journey."

Charles Parto, Philadelphia Clemente Course graduate, 2001

"After this course, I will be taking college classes in the fall. I have truly been inspired and will be going on to bigger and better things. Thank you for your help."

"I'm very happy to have been given the opportunity to have been part of this educational program, which has opened my mind and eyes and has helped me to encourage my children to seek a higher education. And that's what I intend to do myself!"

"This has been a great experience for me. I now know what it's like going to college. Thank you Bard for making it possible."

"The course makes you challenge yourself. You put your gifts out there and open up your mind to a whole new atmosphere. You're not coasting. You have direction."

Holyoke, Massachusetts, 2005, graduate Priscilla Baez and Director Kent Jacobson

"For the last five years I've been incarcerated, and I've had lots of time to think. I really want to go to college and what a better way to start it off than with this class."

"We have been blessed to receive the opportunity to take this course together and to complete it. I am proud of me and I am proud of you because I am sure that we all had heavy obstacles that we could have used as excuses to give up and not return to class, but we did not give in to those demons and so tonight we can celebrate at the finish line together. We should certainly rejoice in the power of the human spirit and our desire to move forward to a brighter tomorrow through education."

"In high school, I was on the honor roll, but didn't have money to go to college. I saw the brochure. It said free and I thought it had to have a gimmick. When I got the call for my interview, I ran out and bought notebooks. At the interview, I was fumbling like a fourth grader, and Dr. Evans calmed me down. She called me back, and I cried and cried. My parents didn't get to go to college."

"First I was doing this for my kids. Then, I found that I was doing it for me."

Raphael Planten, Brooklyn Clemente Course graduate, addresses the class of 1999

"I cannot begin to express how important the course has been to me as far as preparing me to go back to school and be confident that I will be able to achieve my goal of returning to the employed community in the field of my choice—substance abuse counseling. I am also convinced that I will be able to be a better mentor to those I counsel because of the skills I have acquired through this program, as well as because of the interactions I experienced with my classmates."

"The most precious thing I have right now is this job in the bank. Sometimes I feel like the only thing that keeps me going is remembering all those people I met in the Clemente Course back in 1998 and those people had a tough life but they wanted to move on, they struggle hard to come out of that painful life they were living and I felt so lucky compared to them because even though I had a sad life I never had to deal with crime or drugs and things like that. Remember that this course changed my life and I know many people feel the same."

"I am a little amazed when I go into cafes to read books because I feel that people are looking at me with respect, like they never suspected that I would be capable of not being a loser."

"For all these past years I have been working to send support home to my family. Now I want to do something for me."

"This is not just for me. It is important for our people [Latinos], to tell them you can do it, even when you want to give up. We don't have many opportunities like this. It's important to keep going and keep it open for other people in the future."

"There is magic that happens in that room. My perspective on art has changed. Shakespeare has taught me how to think critically. Socrates has taught me how to challenge my own truth. I love history and have a passion for writing. The classroom discussions are rich and full of life. I bring them to the dinner table. My children are curious about what Mom does at school. They ask questions. They see me struggling with homework and working toward a goal. I can now support and take part in their education, encourage them to strive. I can be a power of example."

"I talked about the Bill of Right and Declaration of Independence with my children because I want them to grow up knowing about these documents. I want people to remember what seeds this country grows from."

"People need to be inspired. People need an avenue. The Clemente Course exposes us to things that we can hold on to and remember and that we can pass on and enrich our own lives. It's something beyond getting six credits. It's something that exposes us to things that can help us in other ways."

"I learned responsibility. I voted for the first time in my life. You have to start somewhere. It feels so good to know that I can make a difference."

Roberto Clemente Center, 2001

"It's very hard. I work 40 hours a week, sometimes 12 hours a day. Then I have to cook and clean and then do schoolwork. I've been out of school for 35 years, so it's hard to get into the groove. Now my son and I check each other's schoolwork. I told him, ‘You stay in school; I'll stay in school'."

"I resisted those words: "divorced, no future, no stable career" that my friends throw on me. I resist those words. I stand in search of my true life."

"To bring knowledge is a great undertaking; to bring it to those who missed out on the college scene is truly noble. Your efforts fill me with hope for the future and a joy in knowing that every one of us has insight and knowledge that can be shared."

"There is no challenge that I can't go through. There's no challenge I can't meet. There's no fire I can't put out. I was reading and out of one sentence, I saw the whole world. We all have a new birth within us—a mental birth, captured in the essence of this class."

"I come from a very poor background. My mom was the first person to graduate from high school. This left me feeling inadequate. The low self-esteem that comes along with this led me to being afraid that I wouldn't be able to cut it in a college environment. I've learned that I can compete and keep up, even excel."

Stuart Stritzler-Levine, Dean of Bard College and Professor of the Bard Bridge Course, awards a certificate of achievement to Carlos Rosello, graduate of the Brooklyn Clemente Course, 1999, and the Bard Bridge Course, 2000

"Thank you Bard Clemente for this opportunity to expand my mind and the chance to prove to myself that yes I can!"

"I really felt myself growing in my reading and comprehension and wish to one day continue my education and receive a Master's degree in teaching. Thank you."

"One aspect that sticks out for me about the Bard Clemente Course is the encouragement I received during the year. I feel extremely privileged that I had the opportunity to experience this course. "

"Bard Clemente Course was a wonderful sharing of knowledge for those of us that would otherwise never have had this opportunity."

"I enjoyed the Bard Clemente Course. It disciplined me to study and read a lot. I plan to continue some more college courses at Temple."

"Thank you Bard for giving me the opportunity to attend your college course. I will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall of 2001 to complete my BS."

"Having been a student of Bard Clemente was an answer to a prayer. This program and each professor have made my dream of pursuing a college education a tamed lion."

"When I started the course I was full of self-doubt and had a lack of confidence in my learning ability after being out of school for so long. Because of my participation in the course and help from the professors, I have gained confidence in my ability without the fear of failing."

"Maybe the most important thing to me, however, is the idea that I may well be able to compete in a college environment. I have more confidence in this area even though it still seems somewhat intimidating. But I do believe that I will return to school in the middle future, and that I will be able to do what it takes to be successful as a student."

Simone A. Crawford, Philadelphia Clemente Course graduate, 2001

"Persevering, the rewarding moment of completing the course—gave me such a rush of adrenaline. I will always remember the positive attitude the professors continually instilled within me, even when I felt unsure of myself."

"This class has given me something that I thought was lost forever, and that is the will power to still reach my dreams."

"I've made changes in my life that I thought I couldn't do. I achieved them one by one, by not giving up and not giving in....and just following my dreams."

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STUDENT POETRY

Xochitl Flores
Seattle, Washington, Class of 1998

One of Those Days

Eyes of attention,
Ears that listen,
Minds that perceive,
Flitting, thinking
In hundreds of things to be done.
Rhythm in the words,
Faces with expression,
Hands moving,
Enhancing explanations.
Riddles asked.
Questions unanswered.
Pencils rolling on paper,
Printing, creating ideas.
Heads nodding,
Snacks on the table,
Shy hand rising half way,
Revolution in brains
Trying to understand.
This is just like any other day
In the Bard College Clemente class.

Jiselle Price
Washington, D.C., Class of 2001

Bard Clemente Philosophy

Things aren't all black and white
Enjoy the gray
Take labels off
Get over it get under it
And when things fall apart
Live the day
Enjoy the gray

They say mental cultivation is an afterthought
when survival enters the picture
I say desire and passion can make things be
To float or not to float
That is the question
Self-knowledge is power
Education key

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GRADUATION SPEECHES AND OTHER WRITING BY STUDENTS

Cara Leckenby
Pt. Hadlock, Washington, Class of 2000

In the 12 years since I graduated from high school, I have come to realize in my personal life, at work, and in the world at large that knowledge is power, granting opportunities and status to those who have it. At the same time, I have become aware that many people in our society (including myself at one time) also have entrenched beliefs about who is worthy of access to that knowledge. High school councilors, educators, previous college experiences, and a multitude of social service case workers have told me at different times that because of my educational background, or my temperament, or my social status, or economic status, or family history and orientation, I could not and should not focus on the studies of culture, history, philosophy and the arts. To do so would be above me, or frivolous; unattainable. Instead I should build "job skills" through secretarial school or a technical college. Despite an avid and sometimes voracious interest in culture, history and the arts, despite being raised to value these things, I grew to believe that education was a precious treasure that only a select few were worthy of attaining, and that I was not one of those few. Education would be squandered on me.

In February of 2000, I went into the first session of the Jefferson County Clemente Course in the Humanities with accumulated educational and emotional baggage. I was not there for that first session because I believed that I could be a student. I was not there because I was excited about the opportunity to "better" myself, or to "overcome my barriers". Instead, I was scared of failing, afraid of wasting my time and the time of others, I was afraid that I would let my family down and prove that I truly was not worthy of the precious gift of knowledge, and I was afraid that what I had been "told" about myself as a student would be proven true. I was present on that first night only because Lela Hilton, the program director, would not allow me to excuse myself from the opportunity by citing my beliefs that I just "wasn't a student," wasn't good enough, or smart enough, or privileged enough. On that first evening, while the course instructors introduced themselves, a stack of new, beautiful, hardbound textbooks was laid in front of me. Books holding the cherished information of our culture: history, philosophy, art and literature. Here were the great thinkers, artists, and historians, and their beliefs, histories, triumphs and failures that prove to be elemental in understanding our humanity. The keys to understanding the world were offered through those books without any ultimatums or judgments. I was thrilled with the possibility that the books held and amazed that someone would lay them in front of me as a gift. Someone was saying to me that I was legitimate; saying that they knew that I could value the gift and would be a worthy receptacle for the information.

I did continue on after the first class, struggling to overcome my own beliefs and the beliefs of others. I held the keys for the first time in a long time, and I wasn't about to give them back. Since then I have finished two more years of formal study, and those books have been joined on my bookshelves by countless more and are cherished beyond any of my possessions. This fall I began study as a Junior at Washington State University towards a bachelor degree in Business Administration. In two years when I have achieved that degree, I will have attained the treasure that I felt held back from in so many ways for so long. It is a gift of wisdom and knowledge, that no matter my socio-economic status, no matter my family situation, no matter the external elements of my future, NOBODY will ever be able to take from me. It is an achievement made, not despite any perceived barriers, but because I value the wisdom and the journey, and because someone finally told me that I was valued as a recipient of our society's collective knowledge.

Marcelino Guillen
New York City, New York, Class of 2002

THEN, money…NOW, knowledge
THEN, perico (cocaine)…NOW, van Gogh, Monet, Seurat
THEN, kilos…NOW, Socrates
THEN, handcuffs…NOW, Emancipation Proclamation
THEN, state greens…NOW, fresco secco
THEN, money…NOW, knowledge
THEN, prison gangs…NOW, classmates
THEN, knifes, guns, and razors…NOW, books, pencils, and paper
THEN, prison yard…NOW, classroom
THEN, drug dealer…NOW, drug counselor
THEN, penitentiary…NOW, college

The THEN of this list is my past. The NOW is my present. Let me explain. Three years ago I was in "the box," also known as "solitary confinement," at Franklin Correctional Facility in Upstate New York. That was the longest and loneliest time I have ever had to spend with myself. Man was I bored! Back then I couldn't have pictured myself delivering a speech about something positive in my life, as I am doing here today. Can you REALLY imagine how I feel (besides being nervous) after being in prison for five years, trying unsuccessfully to enter college … but thanks to our dear governor it was never possible. Strangely enough, after my release the Clemente Course at Bard College found me! I say "strangely" because I find these days that if you really want something, if you really desire something, the universe will conspire to give it to you. I truly believe this. I've seen this in practice more than once in my "new" life … the NOW. So it comes as no surprise that one of the most important things the Clemente Course brings us, the students, is education that we can identify and relate to. Take for instance Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" in The Republic as we learned in philosophy class: we go from the THEN list, ignorance, to the NOW list, education! But always remembering that whatever we were yesterday is as important as what we are today and what we will become tomorrow! Thank you, Bard, thank you all!"

Franklin Peralta
Washington, D.C.

I just want to share a few reasons why I think the Clemente Course should continue. It's a good experience for someone who hasn't been to college. It gives you a good idea of what to expect. The professors were demanding, but you could tell they really cared.

I am twenty-two years old graduated from Ben Multicultural High School in 1998. After that I went to UDC for about five months. I had to leave because I had to help my family, so I needed to get a full-time job. I heard about the Bard College Clemente course from co-workers who were in the class the first year and dropped out.

This year my boss, Alvin Alvarado asked me if I wanted to join the Clemente Course. I said yes, because I thought it was going to be a good experience for me. It was. It was great. It was hard and chal1enging, but good. I thought about dropping out a couple of times, but my fellow students kept encouraging me. They would call me and tell me not to miss class. Every Monday and Wednesday, my boss would remind me of the class. He was in it with me. We were there together from the beginning to the end. A lot of people dropped out, but about eleven of us stayed in, kept pushing each other and ourselves.

The philosophy class gave me a lot to think about, even now. You get a lot of different ideas and there is never a wrong answer. Socrates stands out and class discussions around him made everybody participate. There was always a lot of discussion and that was interesting because we were a mixed pip of people – men, women, old, young, Latino. African American, White, mothers, fathers, you name it, we were all there.

I like the small groups and I feel like I could learn more that way. I haven't decided what my next step will be. Sometimes it's easier to know what you don't want, instead of what you want. Wherever I go, whatever I decide, I will be looking for a place that has the small class size and more personal feel like the atmosphere of our Clemente Course. I can say the Clemente Course is great because it challenges you to think. I'm glad I had the experience and I think there are a lot of people who would benefit from it, so it needs to keep going. If I had to rate it, it would give it an A+++.

Rosana Rodriguez
New York City, New York, Class of 2003

Dear Fellow Students, Professors, and Parents,

My name is Rosana Rodriguez and I am a victim of domestic violence. I am no longer ashamed or disgraced to say it, because to say it, is to heal. I want you all to walk away from here tonight understanding that victims do not have to have a black eye, a bloody nose or broken ribs, in fact, the worst bruises are those that are invisible to the eye. My internal injuries are undetectable and are the most difficult to heal. I left my abuser over three years ago, but he manages to remind me every single day that he still has power and control over me and that I am worthless because he now has our daughter. Despite his obsession for destruction and despite his repeated psychological, financial and physical attacks...I am happy to say, "I AM HERE TONIGHT and I am still standing."

He obviously does not have the control that he thinks he has because I am here to celebrate my accomplishments tonight...our accomplishments. This Humanities Course at Roberto Clemente has been a valuable instrument for education and for healing. I have regained a sense of control and self-esteem in my life by being a student here. It has been a struggle, but I am pleased to have shared this life experience with you for the past 6 months. Anyone can receive an education from books…but here we also received an education from people, people who became our friends.

We have been blessed to receive the opportunity to take this course together and to complete it. I am proud of me and I am proud of you because I am sure that we all had heavy obstacles that we could have used as excuses to give up and not return to class, but we did not give in to those demons and so tonight we can celebrate at the finish line together. We should certainly rejoice in the power of the human spirit and our desire to move forward to a brighter tomorrow through education.

I have learned so much in these past months. In American History with Ward Regan, I learned to make a difference and to shift power. In Moral Philosophy with Anthony Baldino, I felt validated by Hobbes's theory of self-preservation by social contract and my right to live a peaceful life. In Literature, with Mark Cohen, I learned the irony of a tragic hero's like Oedipus, who cou1d live an entire life with sight but be truly blind... like so many people we know!! In Art History with Tom Wolf I learned about the contrapposto pose and no this is not a delicious Italian entrée, it's a relaxed and realistic position of the legs! Also in Art History, I fulfilled a lifelong dream. I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the first time in 36 years and 1 saw a Van Gogh's self portrait—it felt like I was peeking into his soul. Standing before his painting was the highlight of these last 6 months. And last but not least, in writing with Julie Regan, I learned that keeping a personal journal since I was 13 may have paid off after all…even though my Mom always advised me not to write because what you write Rosana...stays forever she still says...but Mom, that' the perfect foundation for a book! When she's vacationing on the French Riviera with my book royalties…she will beg to differ...I am sure.

I am certain that we will take so many valuable lessons with us tonight. We have shared and grown together and I hope that we can come away inspired to continue to grow individually as well. I wish to share more educational experiences with you, but if I am not fortunate enough to see you again, I pray that you confront the rest of your lives as you have these challenging classes. These classes…they were not easy but we worked it out, stuck it through and tonight we are finally here. The Professors in this course also deserve special recognition for their patience and devotion to teaching us…and for allowing us to learn at our own pace... as I am proud to say that we are a special kind of college student...in a class our own!! I am honored to have met such great and inspiring professors and I am proud to have made friends that will now be part of the rich fabric and texture of my life.

Tonight I feel more intelligent because of this course but also feel that I am a better person because I have made new friends and strong connections in this room. We are so fortunate to have come together to share, to debate, to laugh and to learn in this Clemente Humanities Course.

I will close with a quote from The Treasured Writings of Kahlil Gibran:
Learning is the only wealth tyrants cannot despoil.
Only death can dim the lamp of knowledge that is within you.
The true wealth of a nation lies not in its gold or silver
But in its learning, wisdom and in the uprightness of its sons.

I would like to conclude by saying that I know for a fact, that there is no limit to what the mind sets out to do. Paint a picture in your mind and start moving forward.
Don't let anybody stop you.
And do not look back.

Congratulations and good luck, my fellow classmates.

Finally, I want to express my gratitude to Julie Regan because she believed in me and I also want to add a special message for my daughter Destiny who is not here tonight: I want her to know that her Mommy will never give up, not until she is safe and sound wrapped in my arms again.

Now, in honor of my mother and all the other Latinos in the audience, I will say the speech in Spanish….

James McMenamin
New York City, New York, Class of 2003

I took a similar cluster of classes in community college, and found the Clemente Course far more interactive, hands-on and engaging. For whatever reason, people may not get the opportunity to take such a course, but when they do they'll be changed in the process. [Course Director] Julie Regan was the glue that bonded the whole experience together. I feel it's essential for prospective students to have this form of discussion, as people were clearly affected by the course, as evidenced by the speeches and conversations I witnessed and took part in at the graduation ceremony. Students were stimulated by thought rooted in the classics, yet looked inwardly at parts of themselves to connect with, as well as their fellow students, and each person's role in society. Instead of dealing with overpriced classes delivered in a 'textbook like' manner by professors more concerned with their careers and following an agenda, this alternative was far more worthwhile—seeing instructors as almost peers rather than dist ant, all-knowing, ego-full sages….As the Clemente Course came to a close, people were quite moved and formed friendships, as well as being expose to material they otherwise would not have cognitively entertained. I hope the Bridge course is offered as a further step for myself, who is a low-income person, and for others as an opportunity to participate, infuse energy, and add character to the world of things. Thanks.

Michael Randolph Hayden
Poughkeepsie, New York, Class of 2000; Bard College, Class of 2005

In this journey that we call life there is one thing we all have in common, no matter where we are from or who we are, and that is our ability to learn.

The society that we live in today has become very competitive and insists that we raise our level of competence to survive. No longer is it realistic with little or no education, to get an entry level job, and have an adequate pension at the age of sixty-five. The workplace has changed and educational needs have changed also.

When public education became a reality for some of the population the opportunity for a college career was realized at least for the majority. Minorities still had years to go before an affordable education equal to that afforded others would be realized. Sadly, the cost of a college education has risen above the reach of most of the middle class, and all of the poor. This leaves grants, loans and possible scholarships as the only realistic means to reach this elusive goal.

The pendulum of time has a way of swinging back to the past if we let it. The reality is that again today we are seeing illiteracy and a large gap between those who want a higher education and those who can afford one, or know the ins and outs of how to get one. It would be a shame to see a time come again when only the affluent get an education and a permanent underclass, inarticulate and unaware of how to participate in the American dream would appear. Does this scenario remind you of the headlines in the daily press?

The Bard College Clemente Course in the Humanities has given each of us the opportunity to continue our higher education when we may not ever have found the means to otherwise. Many of my peers have full time jobs and full time responsibilities that make it very difficult if not impossible to go to college full or part time. The costs associated with higher education, such as tuition and books, created a barrier that many of us found insurmountable. The time involved in traveling to one's chosen college to then take classes would have made going to college very, very difficult. The Clemente program counters these problems by having the courses in a centrally located place, and having the courses delivered to all of the students free of charge, books included. The value of the books alone could make the difference between going and not going back to school.

The classes, taught in the evening, made it possible to go for those of us working during the day, and there were many times that some of us wished that the classes were longer, as the teachers made the subject matter come alive. From philosophy to art history and literature, writing and history, we were there and given better understanding of the things that we knew, and a clear view of what we had not known. Our ability to express ourselves and perhaps to debate a point using critical thinking or the Socratic method are things we will take with us wherever we go, and we are grateful to the Clemente program for the opportunity. I am honored to have been selected to speak here today, and equally honored to have been chosen for a full scholarship to attend Bard College as a result of my participation in this course. Thank you all and congratulations to all the graduates of the year 2000, for the hard work you have done today will make a huge difference tomorrow.

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Bard College Clemente Course in the Humanities
Bard College, PO Box 5000, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504-5000
Phone: 845-758-7066 | Fax: 845-758-7188 | E-mail: clementecourse@bard.edu