Beaufort County Community College President Barbara Tansey gave the graduation address at the 94th Annual 2014 Columbia High School Commencement held June 13.

Tansey outlined a few points for students to remember as they graduate into a changing economy and eventually enter the workforce.

“Everytime your employer tells you that they want you to take advantage of some training that they are going to offer, even if it is on a weekend and you want to go to the beach, take the training. Take the training you find wherever it might be to help you continue learning,” said Tansey.

Tansey told the CHS graduating class that retraining is probably going to be the largest part of their careers.

Training, Tansey emphasized is important.

“Do you want a doctor working on you that has not gone out and got training anywhere in the last 10 years?  I would not want a nurse touching me who has not received any updates in training. The list goes on,” said Tansey.

75 percent of the new jobs being announced right now require more training beyond a high school education.

“Keep in mind that is a big number and more of the jobs that do take only a high school education are disappearing quickly.

Another suggestion was taken from Robert Schuller.

“He believes that anyone can find career success if they do one of three things,” said Tansey.

The first thing is to find a career that looks for needs and then fixes them.

“One example is a machinist. They replace broken parts on equipment or moving parts. Another example is educators. They have worked on you and made you smarter,” said Tansey.

The second thing is to find a hurt and heal it.

“That one is easy. We all know health care is huge right now,” said Tansey.

The final category is to find a career that has somebody with a problem and then you figure out how to solve it.

“This would include city managers and accountants. Military personnel, day care workers, and how about the people that provide our food supply,” said Tansey.

Tansey tied these points to the end of her speech.

“I realize there is a little excitement, as there should be. You have plans for later and lots of celebrations. With a flip of the tassel, you will be ready to take on the adult world.There is where you can vote, choose where you live, choose where you will work, and have the life long privilege of paying bills.

To be successful in the adult world, Tansey noted that students need a career capable of providing them with the money needed to support the lifestyle they choose.

“Therefore I hope you take some of my advice carefully when you choose your career. Make sure it is one you love. Also make sure that it meets somebody’s need to be fixed, healed, or solved,” said Tansey.

The rest of the graduation ceremony included salutatory and valedictory speeches by Daniel Garza Salazar and Jenna Hopkins.

Marcia Manning, Principal at Columbia High School, presented salutatorian and valedictorian trophies.

Ramona Armstrong and Dr. Chris Smith presided over the Citizen Cup Presentation.

Dr. Michael Dunsmore presided over the Awarding of Diplomas with Lee Scripture, chair of the Tyrrell County Board of Education.

Dunsmore also provided special remarks.