RELEASED: Dec. 16, 2004

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College has a reputation for providing personal education that enables students to achieve extraordinary success in advanced study and careers. The College is committed not only to maintain the reputation, but enhance it by exploring more fully the meaning of success.

To that end, Communications Office staff members recently challenged students to define "success." The following sampling of responses is as varied as Centre students themselves.

Lynetta Mier, Fredericktown, Mo. — "In order to live a truly successful life, I must have priorities and use those priorities to maintain a balance in my life. I believe that I will consider myself successful if I can manage to attain happiness in each component of my life and maintain a balance between those components."

Ayaka Sorata, Japan — "Success for me is to feel that I can do it or be satisfied with something. Also, when I succeed at something, I feel respectful toward myself. That's my success."

Jamie Zuehl, San Antonio, Texas — "For me, a successful career would involve my looking forward to getting up each day and going to a job that I truly love. But of course, this would mean nothing without the love of my family and friends. True success comes in the form of surrounding oneself with a loving network of people, serving others and loving what one does as a profession."

Sabina Kudmani, Louisville, Ky. — "I think it's impossible to define 'success' as some sort of life-encompassing ideal since my life changes so drastically every day. Success for me entails achieving my full potential in everything I do."

Reggie Magnusson, Iceland — "I love life! I love everything it has to offer! To me, everyone should try to look at life that way—being positive. That's success."

Thet Naing Win, Burma — "The best answer for me is to satisfy the needs that match the current situation of my life. It's the meaning of success for me."

Kat Farris, Louisville, Ky. — "Success, I feel, is living life at its fullest potential, having no regrets and being happy along the way. Learning is the most crucial aspect to achieving success, and Centre has given me the opportunities to be the most successful person I can be through their exceptional educational programs."

A number of students quoted the 19th century American writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson: "To laugh often and much;/ To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;/ To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;/ To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;/ To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;/ To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.

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