Ordinary Means, Extraordinary Ends
The commencement ceremony at Grove City College featured speeches from Sen. Rand Paul and student Ashley Van Dixhoorn. Sen. Paul emphasized the need for optimism regarding AI's impact on employment, while Van Dixhoorn highlighted the importance of human agency and in-person interactions in education. The event served as a reminder of the value of personal connections in the learning process amidst technological advancements.
- ▪Sen. Rand Paul delivered a speech encouraging optimism about AI and its effects on employment.
- ▪Ashley Van Dixhoorn's speech focused on the significance of human agency and social interactions in education.
- ▪The ceremony underscored the importance of in-person education over AI-generated learning.
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| Original publisher | First Things |
| Canonical URL | https://firstthings.com/ordinary-means-extraordinary-ends/ |
| Publication time | Thu, 21 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-21T05:05:03.495Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-21T05:05:03.495Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Ordinary Means, Extraordinary Ends Carl R. Trueman May 21, 2026 Share Article Although I have been on loan to Notre Dame at the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government this year, I returned to Grove City College to take part in the annual commencement ceremony. You might think that not having to attend would be one of the perks of leave, but for me graduation is a time to honor and say au revoir to those students whom I have come to know not simply as bodies in a class but as individuals who have visited my home. As always, there are two major speeches at the ceremony, one by a distinguished guest, the other by an outstanding student. This year the former was delivered by Sen. Rand Paul, the latter by Ashley Van Dixhoorn.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at First Things.
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