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Remarks by Ambassador Schlicher
at the American International School of Cyprus
Honor Roll Assembly

Nicosia, November 29, 2006

Τα καλά κόποις κτώνται. So goes the ancient Greek proverb that roughly translates as “Good things in life are achieved through hard work and dedication.”

It is an honor for me to address such a dedicated, hard working, indeed outstanding group of students, and I thank all of you associated with the American International School in Cyprus for inviting me to today’s ceremony: students, teachers, administrators, parents.

When I was in high school, I never imagined that I would someday serve as ambassador in my country’s diplomatic corps. A more likely professional path for a kid from Tennessee was to become the owner of a small business, a professor at a local university, or a lawyer. Indeed, I went to law school and worked hard to become a good attorney, but another opportunity opened itself up, leading me to be here with you today.

While a good education prepares us to be successful in a specific field, perhaps more important is that our learning environments encourage us to inquire about the world around us. We study biology and physics, literature and history, mathematics and computers to understand how systems work and operate and to learn about our universe, our planet, our countries and ourselves.

While my own education provided me with a solid professional opportunity and invaluable skills for life, it also left me with the burning desire to continue to learn in and through the diplomatic corps: to discover other cultures and speak different languages, and to meet new people and encounter new ideas.

It is important to study hard and do well in school. By excelling in your studies, you are preparing for a lifetime of challenges and countless opportunities. While I want to encourage each and every one of you to work harder and re-dedicate yourselves, I also want you to remember that learning is a process that continues throughout one’s lifetime. Never stop questioning and inquiring; listen to arguments different from your own; engage in constructive debate; keep an open mind. This is particularly important in a complex situation such as Cyprus has lived for the last fifty years, where emotion is tempting but dialogue and reason are needed to solve the problem itself. The most powerful gift our education can impart to us is the curiosity to learn and question. Indeed, “education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire," as the poet W.B. Yeats so aptly stated.

My heartfelt congratulations go to you students sitting before me, to your parents and your teachers. You truly have earned today’s honors. Keep up the good work!