We know that Evergreen students are extremely well prepared for work. But it cannot be the only goal. I dream that every student at Evergreen will be here because they love to learn. While they are here, I hope they will also find a personal philosophy of life that includes giving back to their communities. The threats to our planet, to the human condition, to our democracy, are so urgent, so compelling, and so enormous, that we cannot afford to graduate citizens into the world who think that their ONLY reason for getting an education is to increase their personal income.
Work is important.
Equally important is a deep commitment and connectedness to the society in which we are all partners. Career is important, but so are solutions to the crisis of global warming. Financial security is important, but so is addressing the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Money is important, but so is narrowing the divide between the haves and have nots in this world. Personal income is important but so is creating a society that recognizes the intrinsic importance of a person who fifty years ago would have been relegated to mopping floors.