Remarks as prepared for delivery:
Thank you, President Washington, for the invitation to speak today and for the honorary degree. This school is special to me for several reasons鈥攎any of my own students at NOVA transfer here. But another reason is the leadership George Mason showed when we launched Joining Forces so many years ago. This college was one of the first to join "Operation Educate the Educators" to better equip teachers helping military-connected students鈥nd you remain committed to serving our military community and their families.
So, I鈥檓 so excited to be able to address the Class of 2021.
Though there is no crowd of friends and family to see you cross a stage today鈥攕itting beside you or watching from far away, there are so many people cheering you on.
It might be your mom or dad鈥攐r that person who feels like a mom or dad鈥攜our siblings, your teachers, your friends. They鈥檙e feeling excitement. Relief. But most of all, pride. Chest-swelling, cheek-aching pride.
Now, I know that commencement speeches are usually life lessons from the speaker.
But instead, I want to talk about you today.
I want you to look back on everything you鈥檝e accomplished here at GMU鈥攅specially in this last year.
For some, that will be harder than for others. But I want you to think about the moments that made you laugh out loud鈥 When you felt deeply grateful for the people in your life鈥
Picture the times when the beauty of the world stopped you in your tracks鈥 An act of kindness that caught you off guard鈥
Or a morning when the leaves glowed greener than you thought they could, and the sun shone just right, and you knew that things would be OK.
You see, trials like the last year can teach us a lot about ourselves. They can show us what matters most鈥攕trip away those things that only seemed important.
We see that joy can be found, even in the worst of times.
We see the strength that has always been in us.
And we realize our limitations as well.
A few years ago, I had to tell my class that I would miss the next session for personal reasons.
Now, my students have never suffered from a lack of curiosity. So, they immediately began shouting, 鈥淒r. B, Dr. B, where鈥檙e you going?鈥
My sister was having the first of her cancer treatments, and she would be in a hospital room for six weeks. I tried to explain with as much composure as I could muster, but the words caught in my throat. So, I turned to face the whiteboard, hoping to hold back my emotions.
And when I turned back around, the entire class was standing. They lined up and gave me a hug, one by one.
Until that moment, I didn鈥檛 realize how much I was struggling, or how much I needed their strength.
Sooner or later, we all suffer heartaches鈥攕ome unimaginable. Some that we might think we can鈥檛 survive.
In my life, I never could have imagined the ways my heart would be shattered.
Sometimes our strength comes from within us鈥 and sometimes it can鈥檛.
Sometimes we carry the weight of our lives鈥nd sometimes our knees buckle beneath us.
But in those moments, remember: You鈥檙e not alone. Let the people who love you help carry that weight.
And never hesitate to be that strength in return.
There are times when the most courageous thing we can do is lean on someone else.
It鈥檚 a gift that we give each other: our vulnerability; our brokenness; and the chance to lift up our loved ones when they need it most.听
What you鈥檝e accomplished this last year is different from the graduating classes that came before you.听
Historians will study this time. Generations will wonder what it was like.
Our world has been changed in ways we don鈥檛 even know yet.
But here鈥檚 what we do know: You, class of 2021, not only survived this year鈥攜ou have achieved something that will change your life forever.
And that鈥檚 just the latest chapter of your journey.
Students at this school come from all different backgrounds.听Almost a third of you will be first-generation graduates.听You know what it means to overcome challenges.
This year, each of you walked through the fire of a global pandemic and you made it to the other side.听You found connections despite social distancing. You found the strength to keep going.
If you can do that, you can do anything.
The poet Mary Oliver wrote:
鈥淚f you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don鈥檛 hesitate. Give in to it鈥 Joy is not made to be a crumb.鈥澨
No one can promise you that life will always be beautiful.
But there will always be beauty鈥攊n the world around us, in the people we love, in the strength of our communities.
So, even if it鈥檚 hard, remember what you鈥檝e learned in this pandemic and all the years leading up to now鈥攁nd hold it tightly within you.
Remember how you rose to this moment and never underestimate the magnitude of that accomplishment.听
Remember that, in a time of sickness and sorrow, there was joy and laughter too.
Remember that life is made of small moments that change us more than we know鈥攁 hug when we need it most, a kind word, the decision to show up for someone who鈥檚 falling behind.
Remember that, eventually, everyone will have to walk through the fire.
But there are times when we need to do more鈥攖o bring others through the flames; to help them find the other side.
Life is calling. It will be heartbreaking and hopeful. It will be bruised and beautiful.
Give in to it. You鈥檙e ready for whatever comes your way.
Congratulations, Class of 2021.
听