As part of this year's homecoming weekend celebrations, best-selling author of "Tuesdays with Morrie," Mitch Albom, addressed the audience of Alumni Arena Friday evening, sharing many life lessons given to him by his professor and mentor, Morrie Schwartz.
Dennis Black, vice president of student affairs, introduced Albom, 44, as the best-selling author of seven books, a multiple-award winning sports journalist, a host of two radio shows and a TV commentator.
"The real reason why I don't need a script tonight is because I'm going to share someone who's very close to my heart with you - Morrie Schwartz," said Albom.
"Tuesdays with Morrie" is the story of Albom's reunion with Schwartz, his teacher, mentor and friend, when Schwartz was laying on his deathbed.
Morrie was Albom's professor when he was a student in Brandeis University. Albom's major, sociology, was a direct result of taking every single class that Morrie taught.
"I really wanted to major in Morrie Schwartz but had to settle for sociology instead," said Albom.
After graduation, Albom broke the one promise he made to his mentor - that he would keep in touch.
"In the process of getting that big paycheck, car and house, we forget the people who made us, just like I forgot my teacher," he said.
Sixteen years after he left Brandeis, Albom was at home watching television when he saw Morrie doing an interview about what it is like to die.
Morrie was in his 70s when he was diagnosed with the terminal illness Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Realizing that his mentor was near death, Albom decided to call Schwartz. When they reunited, Albom visited Morrie every Tuesday in his study, just like they did when Albom was in college.
Through their conversations, Morrie led Albom through one final "class" - how to live, Albom said.
"On behalf on Morrie, I encourage all students to seek out good teachers as they are real people behind the books," Albom said. "Make friends with your teachers."
"Don't worry about your grades so much, get involved in your community," he added.
Albom also tackled issues such as aging and money.
"In the U.S, you can never be too young or too thin," he said. "We spend so much time beating ourselves up over things we are not. We make all this effort to stay young, but look at the trees, the leaves are the most beautiful and colorful just before they die."
Regarding Sept. 11, Albom said, "the most telling lesson that day were the phone calls people trapped in the building made to their loved ones - 'I've called to say I love you.'"
"I really wanted to cry when (Albom) was saying that," said Connie N. Joseph, a junior industrial engineering major.
According to Black, all freshmen were given "Tuesdays With Morrie" as part of UB's reading program, UB Reads.
"We specially brought Albom in because we wanted to tie-in with the UB Reads program and the homecoming family weekend, so that students could attend the talk with their families," said Andrea Costantino, director of student unions and activities.
Justin Field, a sophomore business major, said that finding a mentor like the one Albom found in Schwartz is a difficult process, but something that is necessary to do as a student.
"It's my second year of college, and I'm still trying to find the professor who can be my Morrie Schwartz," Field said. "It's hard, but I'm hanging on."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
