Bryan Cloyd thought that June 6, 2005, was one of the worst days of his life. After April 16, 2007, he counts it as one of his best.

On June 6, 2005, Cloyd’s daughter Austin was in a rollover accident that he watched through his rearview mirror. Although his daughter escaped the crash unscathed, it was never far from his mind. He cherished the moments he spent with his daughter, trying to make them as meaningful as possible. He realized that she could be lost at any moment.

Cloyd, an accounting professor at Virginia Tech, did not realize how precious those moments would be. Austin was one of the 31 victims killed at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007.

After losing his daughter, Cloyd realized that his escape from grief and a return to a meaningful life was meant to help others. He brought his message of hope and service to Barsema Hall on Wednesday.

Cloyd questioned his audience’s definitions of being successful and what a meaningful life is. He discounted the transparency of decadence and opulence and focused on what is really important in life.

“The most meaningful thing we can do is to leave behind, not a huge bank account, but a legacy of service,” Cloyd said. “We must learn what is really important, like character, relationships, dedication to important causes and being a part of something bigger.”

Cloyd used several quotes to drive his message home, but one of the most powerful was one that his daughter often reminded him: “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. And if everyone does something, then together we can change the world.”

Cloyd’s services began with his support of the Appalachia Service Project, a program that provides much needed home repairs to poverty stricken residents of the Appalachian Mountain region. Gayle Dubowski, one of the victims of the shooting at NIU last year, spent two summers on location volunteering for the ASP.

At the conclusion of Cloyd’s speech, a $5,000 donation was made to ASP in honor of Austin, Gayle and the other victims of the NIU and Virginia Tech tragedies.

Cloyd’s message resonated with those in attendance. Brad Cripe, an accounting professor, was glad so many people filled the auditorium.

“This was an outstanding message for our students, and I think they will benefit greatly,” Cripe said. “I will take away that my family and my commitment to the people in my life are what is important.”

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