Congratulations, you made it! I’ll share with you what I heard from Ban Ki Moon — UN Secretary General — at my commencement address five years ago.
He shared with us three messages, on ways we should lead:
1. Make the choice of service: “[…] history does not measure a person by his or her bank account. What counts is how much one gives back to the world – and how courageously one fights for what is right and for those in need.”
2. Be bold and champion progress: there will be times when people will want you to stay silent on issues of injustice. Resist, and you “will no doubt be in the forefront of this bold pursuit for a better planet.”
3. Listen – listen most of all, to opposing views: “[…] people are increasingly reluctant to hear dissonant voices. They are comfortable in their echo chambers. […] We must close the ‘empathy gap’ that is so prevalent in our world today.”
Once again, congratulations! Hope you are all able to find a way to celebrate this special day. Hoya Saxa!
-Andrew J. SFS ’15