Hannah Piedad | Staff Writer
July 5, 2023
On Monday June 26, this year’s Governor’s Scholars were treated to the likeness of Tori Murden McClure, a courageous and groundbreaking woman who generously shared stories from her life and what she learned from her experiences. For background, Murden McClure is the first American and the first woman to row across the Atlantic ocean and ski to the geographic South Pole. She also had the honor to work with Muhammed Ali, and she currently serves as the president of Spalding University in Louisville.
Murden McClure focused on her journey rowing across the Atlantic, where she experienced feelings of helplessness, fear and defeat. Murden McClure shared how during her first attempt to row across the Atlantic ocean, her boat capsized multiple times, leaving her hurt and contemplating whether or not she was going to make it out alive. In a video Murden McClure shared with scholars on Monday evening, she is shown on the boat, deciding against signaling for help to keep her potential rescuers safe, accepting the fact that she may die as a result. Thankfully, after the waters calmed, she was able to safely signal for help and was taken back to land, however, her journey was far from over. Murden McClure shared that after her first rowing attempt, she felt lost and as if she had failed. During this time, she started working with the renowned boxer, Muhammed Ali, and she recounted how he inspired and encouraged her to try again, remarking that “you don’t want to be the woman who almost crossed the Atlantic.” So, she made the brave decision to row across the Atlantic ocean again. She succeeded in her journey, marking her place in history.
Her speech showed scholars that with determination, you can persevere and accomplish your goals, no matter how impossible they seem. Murden McClure resonated with many scholars, and hopefully her speech can be a lesson to all. To learn more about Tori Murden McClure, you can find her book A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean on ebook platforms, and physical copies are available for purchase online.
Photo Credits: GSP 2023 Murray Flicker
