Yesterday evening, the Milton S. Eisenhower (MSE) Symposium began their fall speaker series with Baltimore native and Hopkins alumnus Wes Moore.
“Had it not been for the people who stepped up in my life when I needed it, had it not been for the people that cared for myself even more than myself, the chilling truth is that story could have been mine, and mine could have been his,” Moore said..
This was just one of the many thought-provoking ideas proposed by Moore. He is also a Rhodes Scholar, a former paratrooper and captain in the United States Army and, as of recent, a New York Times bestseller with the publication of his book, The Other Wes Moore. Moore presented students of the university and people of the Baltimore-Washington area with the opportunity to tell some of his personal story, share words of wisdom from his unique experiences, and most importantly, to speak about this year’s symposium topic, “The Global Network: America’s Changing Role in an Interconnected World.”
MSE chair Mohammad Elsayed explained the symposium’s decision to ask Moore to speak.
“We looked at different speakers of different aspects of the media, different ages and examined different issues of national importance. The Symposium wants different speakers to touch on different aspects of our world.”
Prior to Moore’s lecture, the chairs further explained their desire for the symposium to “reflect upon new and pressing issues” and to “showcase tricks to initiate positive change.” Elsayed, along with the rest of the symposium, has been working for the past six months on reaching out to various connections to bring in the best speakers possible to correlate with this year’s theme.
“[Wes] exemplifies the type of speaker we look for in symposium,” Elsayed said.
“[He] generates a lot of discussion in what he speaks about and connects to the issues of youth in America.”
In fact, Moore discussed much about the inspiration for his book. In his novel as well as during his lecture, Moore described how another boy from an strangely similar background to his own (from Baltimore, grew up in a single-parent home, experienced disciplinary issues growing up), is now sitting in prison while “the” Wes Moore is an extraordinarily accomplished man even in comparison to those who come from more lavish upbringings.
Over the past six years, Moore formed a rapport with “the other Wes Moore” that started even before the idea of writing a book came to mind.
Moore spoke briefly on the topic of “the global network.”
Moore explained that the “role of the USA has not only changed but will continue to change,” with the world becoming “more interconnected and global in recent years.”
However, Moore spoke at greater length on “what the new global culture means to [us],” especially as we enter the workforce.
Moore concentrated greatly on encouraging all of us to pursue what we love and what we want and to not “take [our]selves too seriously.”
As Moore put it, “We should think about what we should be doing, but we should also prepare ourselves for change, which is the only constant in life. It is not about that final destination, it is about that journey. ”
Moore stated that he did not expect to work in so many jobs and explore so many fields, needless to say, by the time he was 30. In fact, his underlying message and theme throughout his lecture was that we should all “hope to be useful or necessary.”
With such a broad idea, what does this mean?
“If you have so much success at that age, you get this feeling you are destined for success,” said freshman Jordan Kalms.
In fact, Kalms shares an opinion with the majority of other guests for Moore’s lecture: Can we all truly serve a greater purpose in this world? Is it possible for everyone to make a difference?
As senior Josh Ayal joked with Moore, “[Moore] managed to inspire us to do something but we don’t even know what that is.”
One path Moore suggested is through becoming a leader. Moore discussed that during his time in college, one of his more profound experiences was when he, some classmates and a professor founded a group called STAND to work with kids in the criminal justice system and help assist them in having another chance and opportunity in this life.
As Moore demonstrated, all it takes is action to make a difference.
“[We] can do so much with the community to change the world,” said junior Valerie Nwanji.
Moore also allowed time for students to ask questions.
He elaborated on how experiences in the warzone in Afghanistan further influenced his opinions about rights in the military, the relationship between order commands and executions, and seeing Afghani life in a way that cannot even be described by the media.
During the question time, Moore was able to explain in further depth the importance of assisting underprivileged children living in poverty.
Moore expressed concern that nationally in the twenty-first century, only 48 percent of African Americans graduate high school, with an even smaller percentage completing college.
With education as the bridge to escaping poverty, Moore greatly advocated for all of us to find our niche to help those in poverty.
Moore applauded one Hopkins senior who will be participating in “Teach for America” this upcoming year.
When a student in the audience that was raised in inner-city Baltimore and is currently attending Goucher College in Baltimore, addressed “I want to go home and bring them something different,” Moore said it is “important that [he] go back home, share [his] story, and prove that such isn’t only possible, but also probable.”
Both Moore and this student are symbolic for breaking such a barrier for others in the same situation to follow.
Moore approached Symposium’s topic in a manner which left almost everyone thinking of how we all can make a difference.
“Wes spoke about the importance of getting engaged in the community, public service and its importance as individuals and as a country,” said Elsayed. “[It was] especially relevant as college aged students because we are unsure of what to do.”
“We all want to contribute,” said senior James Zhe, “[but] most don’t know how to.”
“In the path of life,” Moore said, “all that matters is if we were ever here.”
As Moore stated, through a constantly changing journey, our marks on this Earth will be left in a way we will most likely not expect.
And of course, as Moore said, “Just don’t take yourself too seriously.”
