Candace Sheffield Matthews'
Keynote Address
Carnegie Mellon Commencement
May 16, 2004

Good morning. To Dr. Cohon, my fellow trustees, distinguished faculty, honored guests, proud parents and most importantly, the graduating class of 2004, I greet you. It is truly an honor to be here today. I am humbled to stand before you, for although it seems like only yesterday, it was 23 years ago when I, then Candace Mae Sheffield, sat anxiously under the tent on the “cut” to receive my diploma. Yes, I was a proud member of the Carnegie Mellon University CIT Class of 1981, eager to capture what life held for me. I can honestly say, my future delivered far more than I ever could have dreamed.

Now I realize that the only thing standing between you and your diploma is this speech, so I promise to keep it short, sweet, to the point and light-hearted.

As I thought of what to share with you today, I reflected on my own graduation. It was May 18, 1981. (Most of the graduating class here today had not even been conceived yet!) I remember my mother beaming and also shedding a few tears, for finally her baby, 18th child of the Sheffield family, was receiving her diploma and embarking on a journey that she knew was in God’s hands. Little did she know that it would take me to obtaining my master’s degree at Stanford graduate school of business, to a marketing career at General Mills, Proctor & Gamble and Coca-Cola or to becoming president of Softsheen-Carson. But what she did know were the values and motivation she instilled in me. So today, as a tribute to her and all the parents here who have sacrificed so much, I’d like to share her wisdom and a few other things I’ve learned along the way. Feel free to nod, smile, or even moan if your parents have imparted any of this wisdom to you.

First, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” In other words, anything you put your mind to and efforts behind, (forgive me English professors) you can achieve. You’ve got to believe in yourself and your God-given abilities so strongly, that nothing or no one can deter you. That doesn’t mean that you won’t face challenges and obstacles in life because you will. But it does mean you will persevere through them and emerge even stronger than before.

For you to fully understand how strong your “will” can be, I’d like to share some personal experiences that have brought me to where I am today.

I grew up in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, and as I stated earlier, am the youngest of 18 children. My father was an A.M.E. Minister and my mother a homemaker. Although neither one was college educated, both parents stressed education and faith in the home. Their goal was to educate their children and instill in them the values and faith needed to succeed in life.

My father died when I was 10 years old, leaving my mother to raise all the children by herself; 6 of us had not yet finished high school. But my mother was undaunted by the enormity of the task. My parents together and then my mother alone did whatever it took to ensure that we received an education, regardless of the financial challenges. Although my family had no financial resources, it was never a question of if we would go to college but rather which college would we attend! I am proud to say that 16 of the 18 obtained college degrees, including 2 with doctorates. I am living proof that “where there’s a will, there is a way.”

Secondly, “any thing worth doing is worth doing well.” Be the best at whatever you choose to do. You are a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, a phenomonal institution, and the world is yours for the taking. Be it a doctor/doctorate, teacher/preacher, actor/rapper, computer engineer/domestic engineer, CEO/internet entrepreneur; just be the best one around.

(Continued …)

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