[Student Reporters] Dr. Simmons Inspires Lawrenceville Students
Ahra Yoo <10th, The Lawrenceville School>
On September 30th Dr. Ruth Simmons the first African American woman president of Brown University gave a lecture at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey to commemorate Lawrenceville's 200 years of history.
Prior to the speech Head Master Liz Duffy H'43 described the tradition of inviting special guests to school that started a century ago. This tradition was founded in 1852 by the Calliopean Society the oldest society on campus for the purpose of nurturing active dynamic discussion on campus. Honorary members including the U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and Fidel Castro were involved in this discussion.
Dr. Ruth Simmons' story grabbed the attention of 800 students and faculty members. Raised by sharecropper parents in Texas Dr. Simmons faced racial discrimination and hardship during childhood. However she pursued her studies by reading books. She earned a scholarship to Dillard University and pursued graduate work at Harvard. In the year of 2001 she assumed her position as the first African American woman president in an Ivy League institution.
Dr. Simmons shared her goal of promoting global education and explained how vital it is to build "sound human relations." As the first person to achieve college education in her family she quickly learned how education and connections can be useful for anything she chooses to do in life.
Applauding the 200 years of endless innovations at Lawrenceville Dr. Simmons advised students to "wear intellect with humility... never use your education cheaply and hold it over others."
"Be kind. Be true. Be ever humble and grateful for all that life has given you" said Dr. Simmons.