I love the history of words. In English, the class valedictorian is a top student in a graduating class, who therefore has the honor of offering a “valedictory” speech at the graduation ceremony.
That speech’s name comes from two Latin words: “vale” means to be strong, powerful, or healthy. It is an imperative form of a verb that came to mean “farewell” because it was used to wish someone to be those things: strong, powerful, and healthy. The second part of “valedictorian” comes from a Latin verb meaning “to speak.” A valedictory speech is a goodbye speech.
Korean speakers will recognize a similar way of saying goodbye in Korea: “안녕히 가세요,” which likewise literally means “go in peace or good health.” There are two things I love about this way of saying goodbye that is shared by Latin—the West’s international language for over 1000 years, and one of the major sources of English—and Korean.
The first thing is the fact that they are similar, but not identical. If we push on the meanings of vale and 안녕히, there are some differences between them. Those differences in meaning, and the windows they open into cultural difference, are part of the value of an education that is multilingual and multicultural. We get to learn how other cultures see the world, and in doing so, gain a better understanding of our own culture and its values. At the same time, we see how much seemingly very different cultures can share. Through global education at Mason Korea and on the Incheon Global Campus our students ready themselves for life and leadership by understanding both our differences and our common interests and values in an ever-shrinking world.
The second thing I love about this common way of saying goodbye is the idea itself. The end of a college education is an exciting milestone, but it can also be anxiety-provoking, as students move from a now-familiar stage of life to one that is brand new. Indeed, whenever we say goodbye to someone, parting from them at least temporarily, we are entering a zone of uncertainty. Of course, we want to say to that person, “As you move forward, be well.”
I have seen first-hand the accomplishments of our graduating students this semester, and indeed all our students, who have continued to achieve through the pandemic and as we emerge from it. I am confident of their future success.
We just celebrated Mason Korea’s Spring 2022 graduation with several valedictory speeches from our student speaker and from George Mason’s Provost and Executive Vice President Mark Ginsberg, among others. Provost Ginsberg traveled to Korea from Virginia to visit with students, faculty, and staff at Mason Korea and to represent Mason’s US campuses at our graduation.
As many of us in the Mason community part at the end of the semester I too wish to tell our graduates and to all: vale, 안녕히 가세요, farewell! And also, hope to see you again soon.
Robert Matz
Campus Dean
p.s. Stay tuned for next month's newsletter, which in lieu of the dean's message will feature our student Soo Ah Lim's valedictory speech.