Below is a copy of a speech about personal transformation given on April 12, 2025 at Scholarship Recognition Day at Thomas College to admitted and committed students by alumnus Duncan McDougal ’21.
Thank you, President Uzzi, and congratulations again to all of you for attaining the scholarships that brought you here today. The hard work you’ve put in over the course of your high school careers has helped each of you reach a milestone that many students dream of and few achieve, and we’re so excited to honor you today.
My name is Duncan McDougal, and I graduated from Thomas in 2021. I’m a first-generation college graduate, so I know firsthand the difference these scholarships make in allowing students to pursue a higher education. When I was asked to speak here today, I started thinking back almost immediately to my time at Thomas, and how the school formed the person I am today. When I was a senior in high school, I had no idea where I wanted to go to college – my only criterion was: “not in Maine.” I grew up in Hartland, about 45 minutes north of Waterville, and I figured it was time to see somewhere else so, during the spring of my senior year, I dragged my parents up and down the east coast. We toured probably 15 colleges (My dad still complains about the gas money he spent that spring) but none of them felt right, until I returned to Maine and toured Thomas after being recruited for lacrosse. I immediately felt welcomed – I could feel the buzz of the community as soon as I arrived. There’s an energy on campus that just isn’t felt elsewhere. It’s not something that happens randomly, it’s intentional – the students here show up for one another, the professors invest in students personally and professionally, and the administration supports initiatives that bring everyone closer together. I remember, during my senior year of college, my grandmother passed away. I emailed Dr. Greg King, one of my favorite professors, letting him know that I would miss a few days of class. Over the course of the semester Dr. King continually followed up with me to see how I was doing and if I needed anything, letting me know he was there to talk. That’s the norm, not the exception, for the Thomas community. The relationships you’ll build here are some that will last a lifetime.
The strong sense of community also provided a safe place to get out of my comfort zone and broaden my horizons. If I had been asked to speak up here a few years ago, I probably would’ve made up some excuse as to why I couldn’t take part. Early in my freshman year at Thomas I was tasked with giving a presentation as part of a project for one of my classes, and the grade was weighted 75% on the content of the project and 25% on the presentation. For weeks I was frozen in fear thinking about getting up in front of the class – and this was a class with only 25 students. I was losing sleep over it, dreading it, then I got the ‘bright’ idea (one I’m not proud of now) to just work really hard on the project itself and skip the presentation, because at least then I would get a passing grade and be on to the next assignment. The day of the presentation comes, and I tell my professor “I can’t make it to class today, my dog is sick, and I have to bring him to the vet”. I went about the day and returned to class later that week. My professor reminded me that we’d done an icebreaker on the first day of the class talking about our pets….and that I’d said I didn’t have any. Talk about the community being tight knit, right? I was caught and had to redo the presentation, and honestly I’m glad the professor gave me that lesson. There are times when you need to step out of your bubble whether you want to or not. Knowing you have the support of the campus makes that challenge much easier. I had my community, whether it was my teammates, my closest friends, professors and staff – I knew I had people all around that believed in me and knowing that provided the confidence to try something new. Maybe even, eventually, to get up here and talk to you.
As each of you begins your college journey, you should keep in mind that this is a period of growth, discovery, and transformation, and your time here will influence the rest of your life going forward. You’ll be presented with campus opportunities that you’ll want to say ‘no’ to upfront. I challenge you to say ‘yes’ more often. Whether it be taking a difficult class, joining a new club for an activity you’ve never tried before, or participating in organized campus events, saying ‘yes’ will challenge your assumptions as to what you can and cannot do, opening yourself up to possibilities you might have once thought out of reach. You may not succeed in your first or second attempt – failure is a natural part of learning. But failing here in an environment like the one Thomas provides, where you are surrounded by people willing to provide support and to cheer you on, will show you that the only way you won’t succeed is by [simply] quitting. When you get on campus in the fall, you should lean in and be intentional – help build and nurture the community – try new things – and I promise you’ll leave Thomas with memories and skills that will shape the rest of your life. Congratulations once again and thank you for your time.