July 2018 CPE Graduation Address
Class president Maureen A. Will, RPL, addressed CPE Class 04 at its July 19, 2018, commencement ceremony.
The journey for our class didn’t just begin on January 3rd of this year. It began when we made the decision to take the leap and complete an intensive application and make a commitment and a sacrifice to ourselves to be more and do more. At times we struggled with time management, with personal and professional commitments. But through it all we as a community wrapped our arms around one another and got each other through the rough spots – in other words, we didn’t blow it!
In these past nine working days we have forged bonds and mentorships with one another, have seen ourselves move out of our comfort zones and have had those hard conversations, not just with each other, but with ourselves. We have learned that we can and should be respectfully disruptive – to dare greatly and that “I am enough.”
Our world is filled with new words and concepts, and many of us will never look at a chicken salad sandwich the same way again. We do know that we will fail and that’s alright as long as we learn from that failure, and that we empower those around us with delegation, because we can’t do it alone. We can take eight steps to make change, and remember we are managing people not numbers. We will assess our success as much as our failures, and inject positivity within ourselves and others. And it’s tactical – it’s “tacticool.”
So, CPE class 4 – (aka – Skylab 4) we have the plan – marshmallows and fluff are only good for s’mores and peanut butter sandwiches, and fairy dust on our wish list of dreams will be sucked up in the vacuum. Our lives are richer for knowing one another and the tools within our toolkit are there and ready for our reentry to the work force on Monday morning (or in some cases tomorrow). Please “meet me on the balcony” once in a while — for your wisdom, humor, friendship and advice have made me a better person and leader.
To our instructors, thank you for taking the time, energy and effort you put into the CPE Program. We will not soon forget your lessons and sage advice. To the Executive Committee of APCO International and you, Mr. Poarch, as we stand before you today, we are proud to receive the designation of Certified Public-Safety Executive and we pledge not only not to blow it, but to be the leaders we know we can be, as we begin the mentorship of the next generation.
Thank you.
