Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck addressed students, faculty members, Starkville natives and television cameras as the first guest speaker in the Morris W. H. “Bill” Collins speaker series Oct. 11. Tuck is a native of Oktibbeha County and holds two degrees from Mississippi State University. While attending MSU, Tuck was a close friend of the man for whom the lecture series is named. Morris Collins, who died a year ago this month, was the first executive director of the university’s John C. Stennis Institute of Government.
During a warm introduction by Marty Wiseman, director of the Stennis Institute, Tuck was commended on being the first Mississippi State graduate and second woman to serve as lieutenant governor of Mississippi.
Wiseman also cited Tuck’s pragmatism, graciousness and leadership ability as being the factors responsible for her political success.
“I am delighted to be home. It is a humbling experience to be at Mississippi State with the family and friends who have taught me and guided me in my life,” Tuck said. “I want to brag on my friends in the department of political science-they are like an extended family. They haven’t forgotten me, and they continue to support and guide me.”
Tuck began her speech by reflecting on the events of Sept. 11 and the impact they had on Mississippi. She said she was encouraged by the renewed patriotism of the Mississippi people and confident in the nation’s strength and resiliency.
“It was encouraging and comforting to hear Amy Tuck update us on the events of Sept. 11 and how impact us in Mississippi,” Charlie Stewart, a junior, said. “I was moved by her story of visiting with Mississippi school children and finding that they were very afraid of going to war.”
Tuck also spoke about her tough journey to political success. As a woman and a young leader, Tuck faced many obstacles. She even shared an amusing anecdote of one of her first days in the Mississippi Senate.
“As I was walking to my desk, a male senator flagged me down and asked me to get him a cup of coffee. Well, it took me awhile to realize that he honestly thought I was a page. So, the next day, I got there very early and played the joke back on him, and we’ve been good friends ever since,” Tuck said.
However, despite meeting some resistance in the political realm, Tuck said that Mississippi is a great state and its people are willing to give anyone a chance if he or she is willing to work hard. To overcome obstacles such as economic status, youth or gender, Tuck said that one must work with others to build unity and pursue a broad vision of prosperity for everyone in Mississippi.
“If someone from a humble background like me can go on to achieve many things, it should prove to everyone out there that they can aim high and succeed,” Tuck said. She also encouraged young people to not give up on their dreams.
“Don’t be discouraged by failure. Whenever one door closes, another one opens, and that’s exactly what happened to me after barely losing the secretary of state race. Soon thereafter, I had many more opportunities, and here I am today,” Tuck said.
Tuck encouraged students to give back to their university or community after entering into the work force.
“Not everyone has had the same opportunities as you. Keep them in mind as you give something back to your community, state or university. Public service is a tremendous opportunity to make Mississippi’s future your personal business and responsibility. We must be the change in our government and society,” Tuck said.
Timothy Jackson, a junior, said he was impressed by Tuck’s eloquent speaking ability.
“I’m glad she talked about Mississippi being a place of limitless opportunity and not being discouraged by failure. She motivated us to aim high and be proud of all the things we have here in Mississippi,” Jackson said.
“Our economic growth is headed in the right direction, and education continues to be a high priority in the state,” Tuck said.