Head Baseball Coach Jan Weisberg addressed the Class of 2023 at Capping, an annual tradition preceding commencement exercises, on May 18. His remarks have been gently edited for length. 

Congratulations! You’re almost there.

This wonderful four-year journey on the Hilltop is almost done – a journey on which you have gone from a position of dependence to independence in your life, where you have met lifelong friends with whom you have shared the ups and downs that the college experience has presented, where you have learned much both in and out of the classroom from people who have invested in you, where you have developed and improved as a person, and where YOU have added value to this beautiful place that can and does change lives.  

I love this place for that very reason. What makes this place so special is the people who are here, the faculty who pours into the students, the staff that helps make the BSC experience so special, and most importantly YOU, the students. I consider myself a lucky man to serve this institution as a leader, friend, and mentor to some of the students on this campus.  

15 years ago, I made a choice to move onto Greensboro Road on campus because I LOVE the vibrancy that you and other students bring to this campus, and I wanted to raise my sons in this environment. I have enjoyed watching you in the athletic arena, in theater productions, at the Sloss Iron Pour, on the intramural fields, hanging out by the fountain, playing cornhole (or beer pong) on the fraternity lawns, sledding down hills on mattresses and caf trays on a rare snow day. Yes, there have been occasional nights that I have been woken up by some students reveling into the night, and I’ve had to pick up a beer can or two on a morning walk, but that is a small inconvenience I will gladly take because of the life you bring to this campus. The happiest day of the year for me is move in day, and the saddest is move out day, because on one hand it signals the incoming life for nine months, and on the other, the departure of it over the summer.  

I love history, and have loved learning the history of places I have lived. When I moved onto Greensboro, I met and occasionally hung out with a retired art professor, Bob Shelton, who also lived on the road. We would have some cocktails and play bocce ball and snooker at his house. Through that relationship I met another retired BSC professor who taught German here in the ‘60s and ‘70s. To see the history of the College through their lenses from the Civil Rights era to the present was an awesome thing. To hear them talk about their students, and all that they had done was amazing.  

YOU are a part of this history – not just because of all that you have done during your time on the Hilltop, but what you have PERSEVERED through: The suspension of on-campus learning during Covid, the uncertainties and ultimate implementation of returning to campus for learning, and the prospect of our College closing. I am sorry you had to deal with all of that, but I can tell you that you are a stronger and better person for having gone through these things. 

One of the first things that I talk about with our players is to show up, dive in, and hang on.  

Continually reminding yourself of this will help you through transitioning into anything new in your life, from a new job or job search, a new relationship, a personal health and wellness plan, new responsibilities – maybe being a parent, maybe getting a promotion.  

For our new players, showing up was making the decision to come to BSC, and arriving on campus that first August. Athletically, it was joining a new team. Socially, it was being in a new place with new faces around them. Academically, it was getting into a much more demanding environment. Whatever the thing may be that you want to do, if you really want it, even if it is uncomfortable – show up. Get yourself in the game. Do not think about why you can’t get or do something, or the challenges that may lie ahead. Trust in yourself and if you want to do it or get it, go do that with confidence. Too many times we keep ourselves from achieving great things because we put a lid on it; we are not really sure if we can do it. Step back, write down on a piece of paper why you can do or get this thing you want. Don’t not get in the game because you are afraid.  

The second part is dive in. Create an action plan and invest in where you are and what you are doing and you will be truly happy. It is not about perfect and it’s not always sublime; it is about investing yourself to your fullest ability, not just getting by. Dare to stretch yourself. There may be some warts or bumps in the road, but if you invest in what you are doing, you will never have regrets. Getting the most out of any experience will never happen unless you dive in. Hard work is a big part of this. Engaging with others is a big part of this. Some things are much easier if we collaborate, or ask for help when needed. Working with others is so much easier and more fun if you engage and get to know them.  

The final piece is hang on. I talk about replacing the “if” in our lives with “when.” Not if times get tough, but when times get tough. Not if something painful happens, but when. Not if I have a setback, but when.  

At some point you will be faced with some adversity, uncertainty, or pain in your life. This is when, if what you are engaged in is important to you, you hang on. When you get blown off course, use your tools. Pull out your compass and figure out how to get back on course. You do not have to do this alone, and honestly, it really helps if you let other people in during these times to help you hang on.  

It is NOT about being tough.  

It is NOT about not being vulnerable.  

It is NOT about being perfect.  

It is about trusting your gifts, talents, and abilities to stay in the game when things get tough. You have shown the ability to hang on. Use that experience to your advantage in the future. 

Going through pain and hardship is a difficult thing. It can be dealing with a failure or loss; it can be the end of a relationship; it can be losing a loved one; it can be getting fired. Realizing that pain and hardship are a part of living can help us get through them. Use the tools of experience of moving through pain in your life, and the support of others who can help you deal with it. 

Turn back the clock three years to the spring of 2020. Uncertainty and pain hit your class hard. Covid came like a blur, and it seemed like a short minute that every student was packed up and headed home. There was really no warning. There was no time to process what was happening, and a plan for continuing learning that semester was still being figured out by the day. Like you, many of my players really struggled with that semester and the uncertainties of how long isolation would last. Many of them reached out about being depressed, anxious and worried. That was real pain and uncertainty. 

Work – often hard work – is a constant as well. You have seen that during your time here in the academic arena. Work seems to get heavier and harder as you go through life. If you have children, there will be days when you don’t think you can do any more. You can and will get through it. Work is always there to be done, and at times you have to hang on. But a very important thing to remember is balance. It can be time to re-evaluate if your work is taking  

I have learned so much from my players and other students that I have met over the years. To give back and hopefully enlighten you a bit I would encourage you to: 

Engage with people. Disengage with technology. Relationships are so important. Get to know your co-workers, neighnors, church members. When I left Lexington, KY to come here I was so very excited about the opportunity. I had been in Lexington for 16 years. My only regrets when I came were some relationships that I did not cultivate. I “waited for tomorrow and left before tomorrow came” 

Empathize with others. Our world needs more empathy. Empathy helps us understand others better. It causes us to help others. It motivates us to get involved in helping those in need. It helps us understand others.  

Unite with others. Division will be our downfall. Listen to others you don’t agree with rather than shutting them down. Debate rather than scream. A person with a different opinion, faith, or social belief does not make them an enemy. You don’t have to agree, but do try to see their point of view. 

Give back. One of the special things about BSC is the service learning that our students engage in. DON’T STOP. 

Thank you for all you have done for this College. Thank you for showing up, diving in, and hanging on. BSC has been a special place the last four years because of you. Leave knowing that these four years have given you the tools, confidence, and knowledge to move Forward, Ever!  

And don’t forget to come back home.