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Harvard University holds its annual commencement ceremonies in June. After the ceremony on the green lawn between the venerable red brick buildings is finished, the graduating students march into the world in their caps and gowns. Every year people eagerly await to learn who will deliver the commencement speech. Many world-renowned figures, including Nobel prize winners, have spoken at Harvard's graduation ceremonies. In 1947 then U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall revealed his European Recovery Program, also known as the Marshall Plan, in a Harvard commencement speech.
This year's speaker is Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft and the richest man in the world. "We have paid keen attention to Chairman Gates' enormous contributions to business and technology and especially to his exemplary philanthropic work," the Harvard Alumni Association said. Gates, who dropped out of Harvard his junior year, is expected to receive an honorary degree.
According to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper, Gates entered Harvard in 1973 and was never a model student. He skipped classes and crammed for tests. Gates described his time there as unhappy. "I was a melancholy and lonely student who hid in my dorm room and agonized over what I would do in the future," he said.
These days Gates receives tremendous respect. A few years ago I interviewed a Harvard freshman and asked what kind of person he wanted to be. "I want to be a leader like Gates," he said. "A true leader doesn't just pursue success for himself, but drives other people to bigger dreams." These are the kind of qualities that Gates has inspired.
Nowadays, Gates is a newsmaker whose words and actions awe people. But just 10 years ago public opinion wasn't so uniformly positive. In 1998, the American magazine Time ranked Gates number one on its list of the top "Cyber elite". Gates was the subject of intense jealousy and resentment. According to the magazine, some people felt his greatest talent was capitalizing on other people's hard work.
"It can be wiser to follow than to lead. Let the innovators hit the beaches and take the losses; if you hold back and follow, you can clean up in peace and quiet..."
Many thought Gates' success was a combination of other people's ideas and a monopolistic control of the market. Yet he continued to succeed. The business magazine Forbes has named Gates as the world's richest man for 13 consecutive years.
Gates has become a role model for many men and women, not just because of his ideas, business acumen and money, but also because of his efforts to make the world a better place through philanthropy. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he founded with his wife, is saving hundreds of thousands of human lives every year. Thanks to a generous donation last year from investment tycoon Warren Buffett the foundation is worth US$33.7 billion. That's more than the $29 billion that Harvard holds.
Political scientist James McGregor Burns once said, "A leader is not like a merchant who deals in power, but a man who makes principles and values that penetrate deep into the people's hearts." At this very moment, U.S. President George W. Bush is making top news. But 100 years from now, history may evaluate Bill Gates as the more important leader. We can make a similar case in Korea. Our president may appear important right now as he commands our attention. But history will likely favor those who have devoted their efforts to bettering the lives of others while working silently in their labs or offices.
The column was contributed by Kang In-sun, the Chosun Ilbo¡¯s editorial writer.
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