Speaker reaches out to Greeks

By Stacey DeFever, On-Line Forty-Niner

Thursday, November 12, 1998

Twenty-five thousand grains of sand is only about two handfuls and $25,000 will not last long, so Will Keim, a professional motivational speaker, questioned why anyone would think an average lifetime of 25,000 days is plenty of time.

Keim spoke to more than 150 Cal State Long Beach fraternity and sorority members Monday night in the USU Multipurpose Rooms.

"I don't want you to be saints, just good men and women who back up what you say and do with your life," Keim said.

According to Keim, there are 10 things college students can do to ensure that on their graduation day, they walk away from school with a diploma in their left hand and self-esteem in their right. He said both of these things are needed to live a successful life.

College graduates are competing with 100 percent more Americans today to get a job than they were when he graduated, Keim said.

Keim discussed issues ranging from scholastic achievements to qualities of character.

Being a person of character includes low or no risk use of alcohol, Keim said. He said he could not think of any major problems in his life that were not alcohol related.

"If you have problems when you drink, you're a problem drinker," Keim said.

Before receiving a standing ovation, he encouraged students to live their lives the best they can, and to do it with integrity.

"There's only one person you can't fool - yourself," Keim said.