I love ceremonies, and each spring try to attend as many graduations as possible. There is something about the uplifting spirit in the air as our students move on to the next phase of their lives, and the joy you get when a student with whom you really connected takes those steps across the stage. (And the greater joy that comes with watching that four time student conduct code offender shake hands and receive his degree.)
I believe one of the most important parts of the graduation ceremony is the speaker. Graduation speakers can bring a sense of pride to the institution and the graduates, or give the opportunity for one last round of protest. (James Franco, anyone?) As a side note, Inside Higher Ed does a great recap of graduation speakers recently announced every few days.
My own graduation speaker was Dr. Larry Brilliant. He is a great philanthropist who played a large part in the WHO smallpox eradication program, and toured with the Grateful Dead. I graduated in 2004, and faced a “real world” in which our country was still new to the Iraq war, and political conflict felt like electricity in the air. In his speech, Dr. Brilliant said something that I still carry with me today, and find especially relevant to student affairs — “you will survive, and you will thrive.” I have told students this — both in jest as their world “ends”, and with utmost sincerity in times of personal crisis. Personally, I have noticed that when I am at those times of crossroads, and have fear about the impact of my next decision, these words echo in my head and refocus me back to a moment when I felt powerful, supported, and confident.
So, BreakDrinkers, who was your graduation speaker? Did anything they stay stick with you?
