Scholars bustled into the Curris Center after dinner on Wednesday, July 9, eager to hear Trey Grayson speak on politics and life lessons.
Written by: Josiah Self
Scholar Ellison Storm of Owensboro introduced the evening’s speaker. Trey Grayson has led an impressive career in law and politics, both within Kentucky and across the country. Elected in 2003, Grayson became the youngest Secretary of State in the nation. After two successful terms, he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010, ultimately losing to Rand Paul—whom he later endorsed. Since then, Grayson has worked to support Kentucky’s interests outside of elected office. In 2012, he became Director of the Harvard Institute of Politics. After a stint in Cambridge, he returned to the Commonwealth in 2014 to lead the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Since then, he has come full circle to his original field of law and now practices at the firm of Frost Brown Todd. He also engages in lobbying efforts, focusing on election processes across the country.
Applause rippled through the auditorium as Grayson took the stage. Scholars’ faces lit up when he revealed that his speech would center around life lessons from Star Wars. The first lesson: the importance of taking calculated risks. In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker fires proton torpedoes toward the Death Star, risking everything to save the galaxy.
Han Solo exclaims, “Great shot, kid! That was one in a million!”
But was it really? Grayson explained that while chance plays a role in success, we improve our odds by eliminating the risks we can control. He encouraged scholars to shape their own destinies and reminded them to keep their skills relevant so they can live life on their own terms.
Grayson also spoke about the impact GSP had on him. As a 1989 alum, he experienced the Governor’s Scholars Program just as we are today. He recounted how meaningful the experience was—and how it helped shape the course of his career.
Scholars thoroughly enjoyed his address, filling nearly an hour and a half after his talk with questions about politics and Star Wars. Scholars left the Curris Center ballroom tired but inspired—motivated to take calculated risks and reminded to “never be afraid of who you are.”