Past Scholar
Stephen Gilchrist
I have officially graduated from the Master’s of Arts Politics at New York University and am absolutely thrilled! To celebrate the graduating students, roads were blocked off for university street parties and the Empire State Building was lit up in the colours of NYU.
When I was wearing or carrying the full academic attire, perfect strangers came up to congratulate me on my achievement!
New York really loves to celebrate those who commit to the city and it was quite overwhelming. My Mum travelled from Kalgoorlie to watch me graduate which was really special. After the ceremonies were over she made the most of her first trip to New York.
The three-day festivities for students culminated in a university-wide graduation ceremony at Yankee Stadium on 18 May where my degree was formally conferred. Former President Bill Clinton was the special guest and he accepted an honorary doctorate in law and gave the official commencement address.
A renowned and powerful public speaker, I was very much looking forward to hearing President Clinton’s remarks and he didn’t disappoint. After congratulating the students and their families, he spoke at length about global interdependence, income inequality, environmental vigilance, following your dreams, honoring your strengths and how it is incumbent on the graduating students to do their best to change the world for better.
Seated in the stands with the rest of the graduating class of 2011, that goal seemed both possible and imminent. One of the more memorable quotes he made that resonated with me was “the only way to win the future, is to share it”.
Throughout this program I have written about a curatorial process of Indigenising spaces and making them work culturally, moving from a methodology of cultural preservation to cultural activation. I have been slowly transitioning back from student mode into curatorial mode but I hope that I maintain the same activist mindset that has been nurtured by my readings, professors and fellow students.
I go back into the world with a renewed sense of strength, hope, confidence and a reaffirmed responsibility of and commitment to possessing the curatorial voice and the enviable platform it represents.
In the absence of pressing deadlines, I have spent the past two weeks processing all I have learnt, thought and experienced in this program and I really believe it is one of the best things I have ever done.
Of course I didn’t do it alone and there are many people I need to thank, particularly the Trustees of the Roberta Sykes Foundation who believed in my potential and trusted that I would share whatever knowledge I gained for the advancement of Indigenous people, art and culture.
My personal sense of achievement in completing the often challenging course is therefore anchored to a profound sense of gratitude to those who supported me along the way. I am so thankful for this opportunity and will never forget it.
Stephen Gilchrist
31 May 2011
When I was wearing or carrying the full academic attire, perfect strangers came up to congratulate me on my achievement!
New York really loves to celebrate those who commit to the city and it was quite overwhelming. My Mum travelled from Kalgoorlie to watch me graduate which was really special. After the ceremonies were over she made the most of her first trip to New York.
The three-day festivities for students culminated in a university-wide graduation ceremony at Yankee Stadium on 18 May where my degree was formally conferred. Former President Bill Clinton was the special guest and he accepted an honorary doctorate in law and gave the official commencement address.
A renowned and powerful public speaker, I was very much looking forward to hearing President Clinton’s remarks and he didn’t disappoint. After congratulating the students and their families, he spoke at length about global interdependence, income inequality, environmental vigilance, following your dreams, honoring your strengths and how it is incumbent on the graduating students to do their best to change the world for better.
Seated in the stands with the rest of the graduating class of 2011, that goal seemed both possible and imminent. One of the more memorable quotes he made that resonated with me was “the only way to win the future, is to share it”.
Throughout this program I have written about a curatorial process of Indigenising spaces and making them work culturally, moving from a methodology of cultural preservation to cultural activation. I have been slowly transitioning back from student mode into curatorial mode but I hope that I maintain the same activist mindset that has been nurtured by my readings, professors and fellow students.
I go back into the world with a renewed sense of strength, hope, confidence and a reaffirmed responsibility of and commitment to possessing the curatorial voice and the enviable platform it represents.
In the absence of pressing deadlines, I have spent the past two weeks processing all I have learnt, thought and experienced in this program and I really believe it is one of the best things I have ever done.
Of course I didn’t do it alone and there are many people I need to thank, particularly the Trustees of the Roberta Sykes Foundation who believed in my potential and trusted that I would share whatever knowledge I gained for the advancement of Indigenous people, art and culture.
My personal sense of achievement in completing the often challenging course is therefore anchored to a profound sense of gratitude to those who supported me along the way. I am so thankful for this opportunity and will never forget it.
Stephen Gilchrist
31 May 2011
