WGU Graduate Speaker, Matthew Brothers, Winter 2008

<p>Mathew Brothers earned his Bachelor of Science, Business Management degree. On February 16, 2008 Brothers was a graduate speaker at the Winter 2008 WGU Commencement. This WGU Commencement took place at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.</p> <p>Transcription of video:</p> <p>Matthew Brothers: Woo-hoo! I made it! I braved many of Utah's great black diamonds to be here today and I made it in one piece. My name's Matt Brothers and I definitely do not work for NASA. [Laughter]</p> <p>First off, congratulations to all the graduates for making it this far. That is an amazing accomplishment. I'd like to thank everyone that believed in me, this would not have been possible without the love and support from all my friends and family. Many of whom are here today or watching online. Hey, guys. Thanks to my Aunt Jan, who some of you here today may have been lucky enough to have as a mentor. Jan introduced me to Western Governors and persuaded me to enroll. She believed that I have what it takes to make it at Western Governors University. Either that, or she just really wanted a gift card for signing up friends or family. [Laughter]</p> <p>When I told her I did not even own a computer my Uncle Dan and Aunt Jan told me they would give me a laptop if I went to Western Governors University. So I figured I'd give this online school thing a try, I mean, if nothing else for the free laptop computer. [Laughter]</p> <p>Both Jan and my mentor Jill Merit played a very active role in my education, and for that I am forever grateful. Jill really helped me to stay on track and be able to always see the light at the end of the tunnel. I was able to juggle a full-time job, full-time school and still manage to have a personal life. And I'm truly inspired by the stories of my fellow graduates and all the obstacles you all have overcome in your personal life in order to make it here today and graduate. All of you have helped me whether you realize it or not, and together we have achieved something that we could not have done alone.</p> <p>Just a couple years ago I never thought I'd be able to graduate college. I just never had the ambition in the past. I actually attended Auburn University for a couple of years and never really excelled like I have at Western Governors University. When I say I attended Auburn University for a couple years, I actually mean to say I attended a lot of parties at Auburn for a couple years. [Laughter] Unfortunately they do not hand out degrees there for taking on such mentally grueling classes such as tennis one through four and music appreciation. [Laughter]</p> <p>I was a little reluctant to sign up to an online school at first and questioned the validity of distance learning. But now I'm an adamant believer in Western Governors University. I constantly suggest it to everyone I know, sometimes to complete strangers if they let me. [Laughter] Western Governors has helped me to reach goals that I once thought were unattainable. Western Governors gave me a chance to prove to myself that I could graduate college with just a little willingness, ambition, drive, and a free laptop computer. [Laughter]</p> <p>In all honesty it was a lot easier to finish this degree than I had expected. The convenience of such a flexible school schedule and the ability to attend class in my underwear has forever changed my perception of higher learning and has proved that online classes are the future of education. [Laughter]</p> <p>I was looking online for a unique and inspirational quote, perhaps the likes of Aristotle or Socrates, instead I found this quote by George Foreman. [Laughter] It says, "I think sleeping was my problem in school. If school had started at four in the afternoon I'd be a college graduate today." [Laughter] Well, thanks to George Foreman and Western Governors University [Laughter] school can start at four in the afternoon, or at anytime we want it to. So for that very reason I'm standing here today with a degree.</p> <p>I'm truly honored to be here in front of ya'll today and thankful that I could participate in such a surreal experience. Thank you to everyone that made this possible, and thanks to my mom and dad, my brother James, my girlfriend Connie, for all competing with a computer for my time and attention. Thank you to all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins, and family that are here in Utah, and those that have been here for me in the past. Thank you to Western Governors for having a graduation ceremony so close to so many fine ski resorts. [Laughter]</p> <p>And good luck to all the graduates in your future endeavors. And thank you everyone for listening. And if there's anyone interested in hiring me, I do have a diploma from a fine university, please feel free to talk to me afterwards. Thank you.</p> <p>[Applause]</p>