Wes Moore continues ASI distinguished lecture series

November 5, 2015 | ASI Approximately 700 people attended the second presentation of Harding University’s American Studies Institute Distinguished Lecture Series Tuesday, Nov. 3 with author Wes Moore. The message of his presentation, titled “Potential of Education for Transformational Impact,” encouraged students to use their skills, knowledge and passions to make a difference in the world. “’What is your major?’ is not the most important question you will ever be asked. ‘Who did you fight for?’ is,” Moore said. “Higher education is defined by your ability to take the things that you have learned to make it matter to someone else besides yourself that you were even there.” A decorated Army combat veteran, youth advocate and CEO of BridgeEdU, Moore shared moving stories about his friends and family making a difference in the world, and he revealed some insight into one of his New York Times best-selling books — “The Other Wes Moore.” “The Other Wes Moore” is a story of mentorship and support networks that refused to let Moore fall into crime and drugs. It tells the tale of two kids with the name Wes Moore living in the same decaying city. Moore investigated the man with the same name, who is currently serving a life-sentence in prison for the killing of a police officer during an armed robbery. But he said his book is not about him or the other Wes Moore — it’s about the “others.” “Our society is full of ‘others,’” he said. “What we do to push for and fight for the others is what matters. It says nothing about them — it says everything about us. Higher education will be how you take your life experiences and make them matter to others.”