Congressman Gregg Harper Offers Sound Advice to MC Graduates

Congressman Gregg Harper says he really didn't deliver a political speech when he recently addressed the Class of 2010 at his alma mater.

But the 1978 Mississippi College chemistry graduate did mix in a few ingredients that touched on the record levels of federal spending. Deficits are ballooning in Washington by the minute as America responds to the worst economic downturn since the 1930s.

"We cannot continue to spend money as a country that we do not have,” Harper said as he spoke to undergraduates at two commencement ceremonies on May 8. “We must end the deficit spending.”

On a related note, Mississippi's Third District congressman advises young people to live within their means and “don't spend money you don't have.”

And he tells the 20-something crowd to start out by saving and give some of it to a church or charity.

Harper also urged MC's Class of 2010 to network with their classmates as they get ready to launch new careers. He encouraged them to stay connected to the Christian university in Clinton.

“How fortunate you are to have attended Mississippi College and how important it is to maintain your network of friends and to remember it all started here,” Harper said at the A.E. Wood Coliseum. “You will make more money and be more successful if you stay involved with the alumni group. Mississippi College is very respected and known to be very difficult academically. Stay connected and stay plugged in.”

Looking over this new class at the start of a new decade, Harper said he sees future leaders, whether they are business owners, politicians, teachers, pastors, doctors, engineers, lawyers and research scientists.

Mississippi's Third District representative in Congress since January 2009, Harper is seeking re-election this year. A longtime Republican Party activist and an attorney, the Pearl resident provided other sage advice to MC graduates.

He urged the new MC alumni to “look beyond the 30-second sound byte and look for the truth.” He encouraged them to be people who look for the truth and learn to think for themselves. And he wants them to be leaders who plan ahead, work hard and complete their tasks.

At the commencement for MC's graduate school May 7, psychology professor Michael Mann devoted his remarks to the subject of happiness and the latest research on the topic.

Researchers have discovered that in almost every culture, “happiness ranks as one of life's most cherished goals,” Mann said.

Happier people, are likely to be more sociable, more charitable, better liked and have a richer network of friends and social support, Mann said.

One area that people should invest in for their betterment, happiness and betterment of the world is to invest in others, he said. “The truly important stuff of life is not stuff, it is relationships - people. The friendships you made at MC do not have to end tonight, they can last a lifetime. Many of my best friends are the ones I met in my years at MC.”

The university's spring graduations conclude, Friday May 14 with ceremonies for the MC School of Law at First Baptist Church, Jackson. The guest speaker is  Circuit Court Judge Henry Lackey, MC's 2009 Alumnus of the Year.