Congratulations Class of 2026!

As you prepare to lead in our constantly evolving complex world, allow me to read you two short paragraphs  _ one a true account and the second a parable _ that I hope encourages you to use different configurations of the many ways of thinking you have learned here at Ashesi to boost your success whenever you encounter a problem you have never had before.

The first is an excerpt from Survivorship Bias: Abraham Wald and the WWII Airplanes by Jerry Silfwer

During World War II, the Allies studied the damage to their airplanes. They noticed that most of the planes had damage across the span of the wings and the tail wings of the planes. The analysis of the damage resulted in the idea that their airplanes should be reinforced in the areas showing the densest clusters of bullet holes. (You’d think to put armor plating where there is the most damage or bullet hits, right?)

But a statistician named Abraham Wald didn’t agree. He noted that the only data gathered was from airplanes that survived being hit. The damaged airplane wings still allowed the airplanes and crew to survive a hit and therefore needed the least amount of armor reinforcement. Those aircraft that did not make it back to be examined and have their “injuries” recorded are those likely to have been hit and damaged in the the parts of the returning planes that showed little to no damage, i.e., hydraulics, engine and body. And consequently, that’s where to put the reinforcement armor. The genius statistician Abraham Wald saved countless lives by figuring out a common human error and turning this data on its head.

The second reading is a parable titled The 18th Camel.

A man dies and leaves his herd of 17 camels to his three sons as their inheritance. To the first son, he leaves half the camels; to the middle son, he leaves a third of the camels; and to the youngest son, he leaves a ninth of the camels. But 17 doesn’t divide by two, or by three, or by nine. Tempers become strained, so in desperation they consult a wise, old woman.

She listens to their problem and she brings one of her camels. Now they have 18 camels, she asks the first son to take half of them, or nine camels; the middle son takes his third, or six camels; and the youngest son takes his ninth, or two camels. Nine plus six plus two adds up to a total of 17 camels. There is one camel left over, so the wise old woman takes her camel back.”

Class of 2026 continue to use various permutations of your thinking range for success and happiness.

Congratulations class of 2026!!