As a student at Yale University, Eric Liu lugged his textbooks past a simple quotation inscribed on the base of Harkness Bell Tower each day: “I wish to be useful.”

Liu left the entire Parker community with these words–for consideration after a day spent learning about the art of citizenship on Monday, September 25.

Liu is the founder and CEO of Citizen University, whose mission is to “promote and teach the art of creative citizenship,” as well as the author of several publications, including “The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker,” “Guiding Lights: How to Mentor and Find Life’s Purpose,” and–Liu’s most recent, a book the school purchased last Spring for every member of the faculty and staff–“You’re More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen.” Liu is also the Executive Director of the American Identity Program at the Aspen Institute of Citizenship.

In addition to his work at Citizen University and as an author, Liu served as a White House speechwriter for former President Bill Clinton, and later went on to be Clinton’s Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor. A regular columnist for CNN and correspondent for The Atlantic, Liu is currently teaching civic leadership courses at the University of Washington as well as hosting a television show called “Seattle Voices.”

His hands rapidly in motion, Liu began his Morning Exercise talk to Parker’s third through twelfth grades speaking clearly and confidently, standing solid and still in the middle of the stage without podium or notes. As he spoke, a number in the audience laughed, nodded, and responded to his questions and comments, engaged with his ideas on citizenship and power.

Liu was chosen as this year’s Annual Rosenberg Lecturer, in its 20th year. Created in honor of Francine C. Rosenberg, one of Parker’s most dedicated volunteers, and currently spearheaded by Rosenberg’s children, the lecture aims to “expose the Parker community and other lifelong learners to innovative philosophical and educational ideas,” as stated by Sally Rosenberg, Parker graduate of ’79 and daughter of Francine.

“We saw Liu speak in Washington D.C. and were immediately struck by his words,” Rosenberg said when introducing Liu on Monday evening. “We were positive right away that he would be a perfect lecturer for this year. We generally do the Annual Rosenberg Lecture later in the year, but when we came to the school and Dr. Frank with the idea, it was proposed we do it earlier in the school year. Eric Liu’s message is a great one to launch the school year with and use as a talking point and inspiration throughout the year.”

Sophomore Adele Lowitz attended Liu’s MX and additionally met with him in a small group the same day. She believes the message Liu brought to the school is extremely valuable. “A lot of what Liu talked about involving how to be an active and engaged citizen really lines up with what Parker believes in and our mission statement,” Lowitz said. “Having him speak at Parker was like adding fuel to the fire, inspiring us to take skills and ideas we’ve been taught our whole lives and actually use them in real life.”

Junior Felicia Miller does not think that Liu’s speech served this purpose. “I thought that Eric Liu had some interesting thoughts,” Miller said. “But overall we’ve heard what he has to say many, many times before at Parker, and so I don’t think that it was anything new any of us were hearing, and so not necessarily a valuable presentation.”

In his talk, Liu referenced and reinforced Parker’s tradition of opening the school year with Corinthians 12:14-26–a passage from the Bible that details how each part of the body is interconnected. Liu said, “This notion of being a part of one body, the idea that the hand cannot be severed from the body, whether or not that is desired, is the idea of being a citizen.”

Liu was born the son of Chinese refugees in Poughkeepsie, New York. “Throughout my adolescent life, there was always a sense of ‘We did all the heavy lifting, you just had the dumb luck to be born in this country,’” Liu said. “‘Now, you have to earn the fact that we struggled and sacrificed to be here. Use it.’” This message stuck with Liu throughout his life, inspiring him to pursue a line of work he considers to be worthwhile and impactful.

“You’re More Powerful than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen,” published just this year, instructs readers in how to claim and exercise power in this society, the message he delivered to the Parker community. “Everyone has the ability to set things in motion,” Liu said to open his MX. “All that is needed is a slight change in attitude and a new sense of what’s possible.”

That attitude, Liu said, need not be somber. “The key to being a great citizen is not simply standing up for what you believe in,” Liu said to conclude his talk. “It is taking the power you have in your possession and using it to accomplish something you believe is worthwhile. It is not about protesting with teeth clenched, but about being creative. Taking a situation you are stuck in, and imagining your way out of it. It is not about grim resistance, but joyful persistence.”