Congressman Shelley Moore Capito, May 31, 2002

I won’t lie. There’s a lot of fun stuff you get to do when you’re a member of Congress.

The most enjoyable "perks" are perhaps the things that you might not expect, such as awarding West Virginia veterans with medals for their service or presenting grant money to people or communities in need. Sharing in these intensely joyous events of fellow West Virginians is undoubtedly the best part of being your Congresswoman.

Graduation ceremonies are another good example of events that make my work in public service so enjoyable.

Recently, I had the privilege to share parting thoughts at two graduation ceremonies. The ceremonies were different -- one was the Elkins High School graduation and the other was the West Virginia University Technical College graduation -- but the main message I conveyed was very similar.

With every graduation, there comes a crossroads -- a time when one must look back on the past, gather all experiences, knowledge and skills gained and chose a path for the future. But this year, graduates’ sense of excitement and anxiety takes on even greater significance because of the events of September 11th.

Not only does the class of 2002 have to make crucial choices about their futures, but they also have to decide if they want to answer the call to be a hero.

This call to be a hero is not necessarily a hero of Hollywood movies, but rather a person who makes a difference, who contributes something valuable to those around them.

For graduates, choosing to answer this call requires knowing oneself, serving others and taking risks.

Avoid the temptation to view yourself as "ordinary." I’m sure that on Sept. 11th, when Todd Beamer stepped out of bed, he never would have called himself a hero. But on that day, on a hijacked airplane above rural Pennsylvania, Todd rose to the challenge.

Knowing himself, ready to serve those in need and taking a huge risk, he organized a group of passengers to stop the hijackers. His quick thinking and bold actions saved many lives -- perhaps even mine as it is likely that the fourth plane was headed for the U.S. Capitol.

So, to all who are graduating (or who have recently graduated), realize that this is a very special time for you. Opportunities abound. Possibilities are ripe. Don’t be deceived into believing that you have plenty of time to take advantage of all of the excitement before you now.

Time is finite and the call is clear: be a hero.

Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, represents West Virginia's Second Congressional District.