Annie McDonnell Delivers First Lecture
On March 1, 2016, Annie McDonnell ’16 gave Merrimack College’s seventh annual First Lecture at the Rogers Center for the Arts. The First Lecture is an opportunity for a graduating senior to give a lecture on any topic they choose to the student body. McDonnell was nominated by peers and selected by a board that included representatives from Ocrimon Delta Kappa (The Leadership Honors Society), the Student Government Association, and Father Ray. With the ability to speak on any subject, the History and Social Justice double major decided to discuss the importance of being a lifelong learner.
McDonnell began her lecture by asking everyone to close their eyes and think of the most important lesson they have learned in life. After giving them a few moments, she acknowledged that the difficulty people had determining this was similar to what she experienced after accepting her nomination. She narrowed down what she considered the four most important lessons she has learned during her time in college, as well as throughout her life. The first, humanity, touched upon the fact that people are all different and unique. The second was to “just be yourself,” as the little unique aspects of a person are the best parts. Third, she brought up finding the right way to go, as it is hard in life to determine the next step. She gave the advice to find “where you feel most alive,” and stated service was where she found her heart was most happy. This has inspired her to spend at least a year after graduation doing service before entering the workforce, she is ultimately hoping to become a high school history teacher. Finally, she shared a phrase that her parents had used since she was a young child: “Goodnight and God bless.” This constant reminder of love has been used frequently in the McDonnell household and has stuck with her throughout her life, giving Annie the love and passion that has turned her into the person she has become today.
McDonnell ended the night’s lecture with the suggestion of, “When all else fails, turn to love.” This statement connects with McDonnell’s encouragement for students to go on service trips, as they taught her a lot about herself and the importance of getting involved. McDonnell then stated that it’s not just about going on service trips; her advice can be extended into encouraging students “to make the intentional decision to do something with your time at Merrimack: whether it is to step outside of your comfort zone and go somewhere you've never been to do service, or to go on a retreat and take time for reflection on yourself, or to start a club for something you are really passionate about. I think that you should do what your heart is telling you and take advantage of everything offered to you now.” So listen to Annie and step outside your comfort zone. Get involved and experience the great opportunities all around you!