Millersville University, College of Education and Human Services
Spring 2023 Commencement, remarks by Patrick R. Leahy

Good Morning, fellow Millersville University graduates. Congratulations on this achievement. I know that it took a lot of hard work to get here. I am sure that your family and friends are tremendously proud of you.

I want to start by extending a thank you to President Wubah for the opportunity to speak today. The Millersville community has been incredibly important to me - from launching me on a fulfilling career to introducing me to new pursuits. This is truly an honor.

I’d like to introduce my guide dog. This is Hogan.

People often ask me how did you and Hogan get matched up, how did you meet? Obviously, just like everyone else these days, we met on Bumble.

As you’ll soon realize, graduating from the ‘Ville stays with you for life. A few weeks ago, I attended a Millersville alumni reception on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The alums spanned several decades – from the 1960s to a few years ago. Yet, there was an instant connection. At the event, I also had the chance to speak with President Wubah and Dr. Ramos. I should note that I perform stand-up comedy as a hobby, so I wanted to reassure them that I wouldn’t get too carried away in my remarks but might work in a few jokes. They suggested I tell you my story and offer tips for your post-graduation journey.

I grew up in Timonium, Maryland, and have been blind since birth with just a little bit of peripheral vision. So, in true stand-up comedy fashion, I got to tell you that you are a good-looking crowd.

People are always curious as to how being blind affects my life. Indeed, it comes with unique challenges, but life presents us with obstacles, and I strongly believe there is always a way to prevail. I’ve had some hurdles, but I choose not to let them define me.

There are some benefits to being blind. One perk is that I spend all day with a close buddy – a guide dog.

Along this path, I’ve also been fortunate to have the love and encouragement of my parents, brother, extended family, girlfriend Christa, and friends. My brother and sister-in-law have been teachers for 30 plus years. We know how important teaching is and the social work profession.

Their support helps me throw myself into life with a passion. I graduated from Millersville in 1997, majoring in Political Science and History. With enthusiasm for public policy, I then went on to work for several Members of Congress and a Cabinet Secretary. I currently work for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, ensuring our elections are secure and accessible.

A quick public service announcement, please vote. It’s the bottom-line of our democracy.

Throughout, I’ve remained committed to athletics, whether wrestling at MU or competing as an amateur bodybuilder. I’m an avid fitness guy.

I want to offer you four takeaway points. These are life lessons that I’ve gathered from firsthand experiences. I hope you find them helpful.

First, I’d like to touch on the importance of seeing people for who they are instead of the differences they may have. My recent encounter with a group of kids in my neighborhood illustrates this best.

It was late October last year, and Hogan was leading me on our walk home from the office. He’s a quick fella, so these jaunts are pretty lively. I imagine him woofing to me in his happy-go-lucky way on the commute home. I’ll do this in Hogan’s voice, “I’m a guide dog, I’m a guide dog, I love this gig, but we need to get home for dinner.”

On this beautiful evening, we turned down a lane near my house, making a hard right for home. A few steps down the sidewalk, I hear some kiddos in front of us calling out, “Can we take pictures of your dog? Could you please stop?” They were around eight years old. Hogan and I were happy to oblige.

Hogan bounced up and down as the camera shutters clicked around us. It turns out we stumbled upon a kids’ photography group from the local art workshop down the street. They invited me to join them for a future class, and I happily accepted.

A few weeks later, in class, the students greeted Hogan like a returning hero and had lots of questions for both of us. We walked around the neighborhood so they could see Hogan in action and then spent about an hour in the classroom chatting about guide dogs and photography.

Out of the gate came a great question from Emma. During our walk, Emma skipped beside us to keep up with the fast-paced Hogan. As we scooted down the sidewalk, Emma asked, “Do people ever think of you as just being blind, you know, like that blind guy?”

I considered for a moment and replied, “Yes, I think sometimes they do,” Emma responded, “Yeah, I understand, and that bothers me. There’s so much more to you than that. We shouldn’t think of people that way; it’s not right.”

I smiled, and Emma continued, “Yeah, I think of you as this friendly guy with a cool dog.”

How awesome is that? She was spot-on.

I would encourage you always to try to see people for who they are. We can learn so much from each other. I love it when a friend might ask, “Hey Pat, did you see that remodeled house down the street, or can you take up my blue trash can?” It’s a compliment when people forget about my blindness.

Good friends lend a helping hand when needed, but they always see the person. I hope you can do the same with everyone you meet.

Point number 2 is simple but so important. In your professional life, work hard. It’s a competitive environment out there no matter the field you choose.

My first internship was after my junior year of college for Congressman Bob Walker in Lancaster. A recently retired Millersville professor, Charlie Greenawalt, helped me get the internship. We are friends to this day.

I lived in Brookwood and traveled to Lancaster on the bus with my guide dog, Nina. I arrived at the office before it opened. I figured this would help me hit the ground running when the first staffer arrived. After a few weeks, the chief of staff gave me a key to the office. He said, “Since you are here early, before all of us, we’d like you to open the place and get the mail.” This set a great tone for my internship. The job was a fantastic experience and helped me land on Capitol Hill following graduation. A final thought on this. While you’re working hard, have lots of fun, too.

Next, I’d like to discuss a point you already know, but I think it is worth emphasizing-the importance of dealing with adversity. The past few years presented challenges, but you have overcome and excelled.

You will run into obstacles in your life. As best you can, try to meet them head-on with strength and an open mind, thinking of possibilities.

Let me give you a quick story about some adversity that made its way into my life a few years ago. For background, the guide dog before Hogan was named Galahad. I think this story works better from his perspective.

In late 2014, in the middle of Galahad’s guide dog career, a serious connective tissue disorder put me in the hospital for three weeks. Thankfully, I’m feeling fine these days, but it took several months for me to get back on my feet and a few years to fully recover physically. I kept working and hitting the gym the entire time. I started stand-up comedy then because laughter is good medicine.

My family and friends were always there for support. Galahad spent practically every second at my side. His unconditional love and devotion were instrumental to my recovery. Many mornings when I didn’t feel like getting out of bed, Galahad would playfully run up to the bed and start licking my face, pawing me to check if I was awake. If I didn’t respond, this hoss of a dog would come flying through the air and land on top of me. I know he wanted breakfast, but I also think he was trying to get his good friend up and moving for work.

Those days taught me about the beauty of life and the need to celebrate each moment. Do your best to look for how you can learn from the challenges in your life and then grow from them.

You will face both minor and major adversity from time to time. Keep moving forward, seek solutions, and never give up. Reach out to friends and family for support. I find strength in praying for grace on tough days.

My fourth point. Remember to give back to others and organizations. We all have a responsibility to make our world a better place, and by serving others, you will find fulfillment and purpose.

Over the years, I’ve been drawn to causes such as helping kids with disabilities in athletics, assisting my guide dog school, and serving on various boards. When you give back, you’ll lift up lives and, in the process, find more meaning in yours.

This past weekend, I returned from Hogan’s guide dog school, in Yorktown Heights, New York. I serve on the Guiding Eyes Graduate Council. It was great to hang with my fellow council members and learn how we can help our fellow graduates. There was plenty of dog butt sniffing by our furry friends and, most importantly, collaborative work to help guide dog teams across the country.

Please seek out that area of passion in your life. There’s great satisfaction in working together to help others. You should consider volunteering at the 'Ville.

There are many ways to help out: join the MU Alumni Board of Directors, lend a hand at Homecoming, or mentor a student in your field. It’s been rewarding to serve the college that offered so much in the way of experience and education. That’s Hogan and I nudging you to give back.

Enjoy today. We look forward to all your successes. For now, this is your neighborhood “friendly guy and cool dog” extending heartfelt congratulations on your accomplishments!