“Thank you for organizing such a wonderful and meaningful graduation ceremony. With the risk of sounding corny, for me it was like an out-of-body experience. I could not stop smiling during the entire day, knowing that I did it, that I survived, and I definitely came out stronger than I went into it three years ago… I just needed to let you know how much I appreciate the life-changing opportunity and experience I received from CMLAW.”-Erika Molnar ’18
Some people collect wine, antique furniture, fine art, coins, or trading cards. I collect speeches and talks because, to me, there is nothing more inspiring than when the written word meets the human voice. A great speech has meaning that transcends the immediate moment.
Some of the best speeches I’ve ever heard or read are commencement speeches. Below are some excerpts from some of my favorite 2018 commencement speeches.
“These are the top ten things I wish I had known in law school:
- Your room for improvement is always your biggest room, so spend some time filling it up.
- How do you combat inexperience? Over-preparation.
- There is never a substitute for enthusiasm, -- yes, you need skill, yes, you need talent, yes, you need expertise --- but it’s still true that the person with enthusiasm always wins.
- In every adversity, there lies a seed of equal or greater benefit.
- Five years from now, your future will be most determined by the books you read and the people you associated with.
- The rewards in life come when you are out there on the extra mile.
- You have to have some principles that you can believe in and that you won’t waver from.
- Never forget where you came from…and who helped you to get there.
- There is no luck in success. Success is where opportunity and preparation meet.
- Observe what the masses of people do, and then simply do the opposite.”
-Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Commencement, May 13, 2018
“Like all little girls, I was taught to be grateful. I was taught to keep my head down, stay on the path, and get my job done. I was freaking Little Red Riding Hood.
You know the fairy tale: ….. Little Red Riding Hood heads off through the woods and is given strict instructions: Stay on the path. Don’t talk to anybody. Keep your head down….
And she does… at first. But then she dares to get a little curious and she ventures off the path. That’s of course when she encounters the Big Bad Wolf and all hell breaks loose.
The message is clear: Don’t be curious, don’t make trouble, don’t say too much or bad things will happen.
I stayed on the path out of fear, not of being eaten by a wolf, but of being cut, being benched, losing my paycheck.
If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing it would be this: “Abby, you were never Little Red Riding Hood; you were always the wolf.”
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for…
We will not Little Red Riding Hood our way through life. We will unite our pack, storm the valley together, and change the whole bloody system.
As you leave here today and everyday going forward: Don’t just ask yourself, “What do I want to do?” Ask yourself: “WHO do I want to be?” Because the most important thing I've learned is that what you do will never define you. Who you are always will.
And who you are—Barnard women—are the wolves. Surrounding you today is your wolf pack.
Look around. Don’t lose each other. Leave these sacred grounds united, storm the valleys together, and be our salvation.
-Abby Wambach, all-time leading scorer, for both women and men, in international soccer history, Barnard College, Spring 2018
“ Now often, people talk about striving for tolerance. Now, don’t get me wrong: There are places in this world where a little more tolerance would go a long way. But if we’re being honest, right here, right now, I think we can aim a little higher than mere tolerance.
Think about it. Saying “I tolerate you” actually means something like, “O.K., I grudgingly admit that you have a right to exist, just don’t get in my face about it, and oh, don’t date my sister.”
There’s not a religion in the world that asks you to “tolerate thy neighbor.” So let’s try for something a little more like acceptance, respect, friendship and, yes, even love.
And why does this matter? Because in our aspiration to relevance; in our love for our families; in our desire to contribute, to make this world a better place; despite our differences, we are all the same….”
- Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, New York University, Spring 2018
“ Purpose is an essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history.
Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill. Whatever you choose for a career path, remember the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.
When I dared to challenge the system that would relegate us to victims and stereotypes with no clear historical backgrounds, no hopes or talents, when I questioned that method of portrayal, a different path opened up for me. The path to my destiny.”
- Chadwick Boseman, star of “Black Panther,” Howard University, Spring 2018
Have a great week.
My best,
Lee
My views in all my Monday Morning Messages are my personal views alone and do not reflect the views of our Law School or our University.