Hale speaks to preparation, passion, and purpose at Atwood Day Assembly
Kentucky State University honored its ninth president, Rufus B. Atwood, at the 2023 Atwood Day Assembly on March 28. Education Program Specialist Dr. Bryan D. Hale ’97 provided the keynote address, focusing on preparation, passion, and purpose.
“Atwood was a KSU giant who took firm hold of his destiny and created a place where living in your preparation, your passion, and your purpose bears limitless expectations,” Hale declared of KSU’s longest-serving president.
“In spite of the formidable circumstances of the times, Atwood set high standards, persevered, and ushered Kentucky State into prominence with the authority of preparation, authority of passion, and the authority of purpose.”
Atwood served as president of Kentucky State College from 1929 to 1962. Among the numerous highlights of his career, Atwood improved educational opportunities for African Americans, brought full accreditation to Kentucky State, and led the battle for desegregated education in Kentucky in the 1940s.
A critical component of success is preparation Hale shared quoting an unknown scholar who said you must, “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.”
“Preparation is the action or process for making something ready for use, service, or of getting ready for some occasion. That preparation positions you for opportunities.”
Hale continued, encouraging students to begin their journey of preparation to find their passion asking, “Have you discovered your passion?”
“We need each of you to not settle until you’ve discovered your passion. We cannot afford not one to walk aimlessly through life. We owe a debt to our ancestors and we are accountable to generations to come.”
Speaking to purpose, Hale shared a definition that is most meaningful and impactful to him.
“Purpose is your personally or spiritually derived authentic set of life aims that guides your behavior, pulls you forward into the future, and gives meaning to life,” he shared. “I love the notion that purpose pulls you into the future. It is always guiding, nurturing, in motion and it does not allow stagnation. Purpose can shape goals, guide life’s decisions, and offer a sense of direction.”
Hale concluded his address urging all Thorobreds to, “Trust in your preparation. Believe in your passion. Fulfill your purpose to reclaim your authority to enable your intended and desired future.”