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INSIDE MOREHOUSE, MAY 2011
Inside Morehouse is
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MY WORD
RITE OF PASSAGE
'They transform from Men of Morehouse and become Morehouse Men
and join the ranks of brothers who completed the journey before them'
By DAMON PHILLIPS 96
T here have always been rit
uals that signify a transi
tion from one stage in life
to another. Nearly all societies
recognize and often hold cere
monies to celebrate this change.
These ceremonies help people
understand their new roles in
society and serve as examples of
how people should be treated.
These rites of passage contain
three main phases: separation,
transition, and incorporation.
During separation, young
people are taken away from
their familiar environment and
former role, forcing them to
adopt a very different, and
sometimes foreign, routine they
must become familiar with.
Here at Morehouse, that phase
is represented by our successful
New Student Orientation.
The transition phase is the
time that these budding leaders
learn the appropriate behavior
for the new stage they are
entering. This is the time when
they learn and grow and pre
pare to be an independent
adult in the real world. Each
day, our students do this
through matriculation.
The last phase, incorpora
tion, takes place when the par
ticipant formally begins their
new role. This month, we cele
brate this phase with graduation.
In our Morehouse commu
nity, we further celebrate the
transition of our students as
they join the ranks of 15,000
living alumni around the
world. Students go from being
men of Morehouse to
Morehouse Men, joining the
ranks of brothers who com
pleted the journey before them.
Fittingly, the College’s com
memoration of this point in
their lives is our Rite of Passage
- the culmination of hours,
dollars and wisdom invested by
family, friends, alumni and
staff, all focused on the success
of the student.
The Rite of Passage is the
introduction to the world of a
new Morehouse alumnus who
is ready to embrace all the
rights, responsibilities, expecta
tions and privileges that
accompany such a title. On
that day, the institution cele
brates the maturation of young
men who are now charged with
changing the classrooms,
courtrooms, churches and
communities around them.
Howard Thurman, valedic
torian of the Morehouse class
of 1923, once said, “Don’t ask
what the world needs. Ask
what makes you come alive,
and go do it. Because what the
world needs are people who
have come alive.”
The Rite of Passage cele
brates new Morehouse Men
coming alive. ■
Damon Phillips ’96 is the associ
ate director of Alumni Relations,
Annual Giving Programs and
Special Events.
'It is never just about us, it is bigger than us'
By LYDIA A. WOODS
I stood in Hurt Park five years ago, nervous
and excited. It was my first 5K road race,
the Downtown Dash for Diabetes. I was
new to running. But I have type II diabetes
and my donation would go to a good cause.
You never realize how hilly downtown
Atlanta is until you have to run it. I was worn
out by the time I reached the top of a hill and
turned a corner. In the end, I was discour
aged with my performance and time.
After the race, my husband asked if I was
staying for the awards ceremony. Tired and
frustrated, I said, “Why would I stay for some
award that I’m not going to win.”
He said, I think maybe you may have won
something, because I was watching the finish
and I didn’t see many women in your age
group come across the finish line.”
But then I heard the announcer say,
“Lydia Woods, third place with a time of 36
minutes.” Shocked, I shook my head. I felt
like an ant as I walked back toward my hus
band holding my award. Then I heard the
small still voice ot the Lord. He said softly to
me, “Keep running, do your best, be encour
aged, I am with you.” That was March 2006,
and by the end of that year, I had won 105
medals, a gold medal at the USA Masters
Track & Field Championships and had set an
American record in the 4x100 relay with my
Atlanta Track Club teammates.
In 2010,1 taught two walking/jogging
classes at Morehouse and invited my stu
dents (and offered extra credit) to partici
pate in the 2010 Downtown Dash for
Diabetes. Only three students took the offer,
yet all three won medals in their age cate
gories, as well as myself.
As we posed for a photo, I heard the voice
of the Lord speak to me again: “You see, this
thing is bigger than you.” I then realized that
for next year, I would make it a requirement
for all my activity classes.
So at the beginning of this semester, I told
my students we would be competing in the
2011 Downtown Dash for Diabetes 5K as a
course requirement. Jonathan Howard stayed
after class to tell me that his Spelman sister,
Adrienne Bauduit, passed from diabetes in
January. I decided my classes would raise
money in Adrienne’s memory. We could pos
sibly win the team plaque and send it to her
mom and raise money for a good cause.
How proud I am of the three students
in the 20- to 24-year-old age group who
won medals by finishing first, second and
third place, as well as the student who fin
ished second in the 15- to 19-year-old age
group. What a special day for my students.
We all can be used to make a difference in
the lives of others. Adrienne Bauduit has
made a difference in my life and many others.
As we focus our energies together, we can
make a difference in our communities and the
world. More than 100 of my students donated
$2,105 to the Diabetes Association of Atlanta
in Adrienne’s memory. What will Morehouse
students be able to accomplish next year?
March 19 was a proud day for me at Hurt
Park as I saw so many Morehouse students
preparing to run that 5K. I reflected on my
first race as we posed for the picture that I
would send to Adrienne’s mom. It is never just
about us, it is bigger than us. I could not have
foreseen this future from that day in 2006. ■
Lydia Woods is an assistant professor in the
department of Kinesiology, Sports Studies and
Physical Education.
Lydia Woods (sixth from right) with Morehouse physical education students at the 2011
Downtown Dash for Diabetes