Guskiewicz to Graduates: Formulate a Strategic Plan
Posted on December 10, 2017
Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, a nationally recognized expert on sport-related concussions, challenged University of South Alabama graduates during Fall Commencement on Saturday to strive for excellence, learn from their failures and surround themselves with trustworthy people who will challenge them.
More than 1,500 graduates receiving bachelor, masters and doctoral degrees were recognized during the ceremony held at the Mitchell Center on South鈥檚 campus.
The graduates included 84-year-old Mobile resident Murdoch Newton Campbell, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Interdisciplinary Studies 鈥 Applied Sciences concentration. Campbell is believed to be the oldest graduate in South鈥檚 54-year history.
Guskiewicz, a neuroscientist, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and recipient of a prestigious MacArthur fellowship, was one of the first researchers to identify the long-term effects of multiple concussions, including cognitive impairment and depression in later life, through large-scale epidemiological studies of retired professional football players.
鈥淚t was the last thing the NFL wanted to hear, and the league鈥檚 own medical committee dismissed our findings,鈥 Guskiewicz said. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 back down. We expanded our research program and eventually corroborated our findings 鈥 to find interventions to protect players from concussion and the long-term effects.鈥
Guskiewicz added: 鈥淭he most rewarding aspect of this has been that our research has had a trickle-down effect to youth sports, and there is now a heightened awareness about concussions in sport that is likely saving lives. Our research led to a 45 percent reduction in concussions sustained on kickoff play alone over the past five years in the NFL and NCAA.鈥
The researcher shared advice he often gives his four children, saying it is 鈥渢attooed on their brains.鈥
鈥淵ou will only be as good as you practice to be,鈥 he said. 鈥淚f something is truly important to you, devote yourself to it and make sacrifices for it.鈥
鈥淵ou will only be as good as you practice to be.鈥
Guskiewicz advised each graduate to formulate their own strategic plan, using it as a road map for the future, and to remain focused and positive when roadblocks appear. He said 鈥渄eferred gratification鈥 can often change that road map, creating a brighter future.
He described how as he neared completion of studies for his master鈥檚 degree, a faculty mentor advised him to stay in school and complete his doctorate rather than accepting one of three job offers, including one from the Pittsburgh Steelers where he had an assistantship. Finally, he opted to stay in school to earn his doctorate, calling it 鈥渢he best career decision of my life.鈥
鈥淵our road map will no doubt take unexpected twists and turns,鈥 Guskiewicz said, 鈥淏ut, through deferred gratification, staying focused on what is important to you and surrounding yourself with good people who challenge you, you will get to where you need to go.鈥
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