Former Ky. governor speaks for Greek Week
Marty Finley
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News
Numerous presidents, senators, representatives and Supreme Court members also count themselves among the ranks of the Greeks, and Collins said this affiliation gave them good training for their future positions.
However, much of her speech challenged students to understand the cultural competition around them.
As they leave college, they will be competing not only with students in the United States, but students all over the globe, she said.
She illustrated her point by asking the audience some questions.
She said students around the world were arising to a new day.
Did those students learn more, train more and do more to compete in the increasingly shrinking world than the students at Eastern did?
Collins said it was pertinent for students to ask themselves these questions as they prepare to enter the workforce, and even now as they function within their fraternity or sorority.
She related her on experiences traveling to China, where she found row after row of computers in schools, while state-wide schools talk about class reduction.
"We're training 32, [and] they're training 2,000," she said.
She also said America's influence is affected as other countries grow.
"America is the 800-pound gorilla in the room," Collins said, referring to the adage used to describe an overwhelming force. "But we're starting to lose weight. We need to make sure we don't lose too much weight."
For instance, Collins referenced the outsourcing of call centers to India, which has taken jobs from Kentucky.
She said the people in India were willing to master English and make themselves relatable to the American people, so they can "sound like us" as they help people with their washing machines or computers.
Collins said competition is not something she shies away from.
"I [love] competition; I always want to win," she said
One of Collins' main focuses today is economic development as the Chairman and CEO of the Kentucky World Trade Center.
However, much of her speech challenged students to understand the cultural competition around them.
As they leave college, they will be competing not only with students in the United States, but students all over the globe, she said.
She illustrated her point by asking the audience some questions.
She said students around the world were arising to a new day.
Did those students learn more, train more and do more to compete in the increasingly shrinking world than the students at Eastern did?
Collins said it was pertinent for students to ask themselves these questions as they prepare to enter the workforce, and even now as they function within their fraternity or sorority.
She related her on experiences traveling to China, where she found row after row of computers in schools, while state-wide schools talk about class reduction.
"We're training 32, [and] they're training 2,000," she said.
She also said America's influence is affected as other countries grow.
"America is the 800-pound gorilla in the room," Collins said, referring to the adage used to describe an overwhelming force. "But we're starting to lose weight. We need to make sure we don't lose too much weight."
For instance, Collins referenced the outsourcing of call centers to India, which has taken jobs from Kentucky.
She said the people in India were willing to master English and make themselves relatable to the American people, so they can "sound like us" as they help people with their washing machines or computers.
Collins said competition is not something she shies away from.
"I [love] competition; I always want to win," she said
One of Collins' main focuses today is economic development as the Chairman and CEO of the Kentucky World Trade Center.