2007 Graduation - Baccalaureate Ceremony

Martha St. Jean, Student Speaker

GOOD MORNING. I would like to begin by addressing the parents. Madeline Albright once said of parents of graduates, “You feel one part sad, one part relieved, one part broke and every part proud.” Today I say to you, because you are not just any parents, but the parents of NYU graduates that it may be that you sit here 3 parts broke, but every part proud. We thank you not only for the money, but also for the effort and encouragement that many of us have found in you.

We entered NYU with our fears and, misconceptions of what college was supposed to be, unaware of who we were, and unsure of what we believed in. During the first 24hrs the realization hit: college was defintley not something out of Dawson’s Creek. Upon entering New York University every notebook, day planner and folder was emblazoned with the seal proclaiming the words “perstare et praestare”. And no, before today I had no idea what it meant: to achieve and to excel. Here we sit four years later, having put in the time, effort, and heart to take those words beyond a credo and make it a reality.

We entered college at a time when the world was greatly shifting. President Bush launched, Operation Iraqi Freedom. Today the world continues to change. Sadaam Hussein is now dead, and so are over 3000 American soldiers. All this accomplished in the name of democracy, but at what cost? But that is the beauty in the midst of tragedy; we have the power to now decide what cost. Ours is a world in which we can say YES to freedom, liberty, equality, and justice for all while redefining what it means to us. We can say NO to the genocide in Sudan, the rape of children by UN peacekeeping forces in Haiti, and say no to our soldiers dying abroad.

Ours is a generation that must meet the challenge and stand up for what WE BELIEVE is right. Let us remember what happened in Rwanda 13 years ago when world leaders took too long to say, “ENOUGH.” Call to remembrance the Holocaust before that. When will we learn from the past in order to create a blueprint of hope for the future?

There is no longer time to be shy about your beliefs. So today, standing before you I will confess what I believe in. I believe in God, best friends, that a parents' hug is a cure-all. I believe that there is good in all of us. I also believe we have a duty to each other and to lend a helping hand whenever possible.

We are citizens of the world. Let us take that role seriously. Citizenship is about respect for others and ourselves, and recognizing that in order for something to have an impact it takes a village. Look around you, this is our village: a network of future educators, artists, health care practioners, communications specialists, overall change makers, full of the knowledge and necessary resources required for success.

Therefore we know that starting today we will be applying to the public all the wonderful facets of knowledge that we have acquired throughout the four years. You will go out to the world spreading the creed of acceptance and diversity of choice. Every single one of us sitting here knows what it means to achieve and to excel. The world sits at our feet, because we have been given the best that education can offer.

Many forget the true meaning of commencement, viewing it as the end, but it is actually a beginning. We are entering a chapter that is yet unwritten, full of possibilities and unlimited imaginings.

So I urge you to remember a few things about your experiences at New York University:

• Never forget those fears you had on the first day; take pride in the fact that you have overcome them.
• Never forget that one professor who helped you see the world a little differently.
• Never forget the friends you have made for it is within them that you found yourself.
• Most importantly never forget that our greatest resource is ourselves, and that there is power in human capital. Continue to be fond of that one currency that never depreciates in value with the markets. Instead everyday it appreciates, because everyday is a new opportunity to learn and to build upon a firm foundation.

Steinhardt Class of 2007: CONGRATULATIONS! WELL DONE!! I ENCOURAGE US ALL HERE TODAY TO CONTINUE TO be the vision, be the instrument, be the message, be the change, AND the future. BRAVO AND GOOD LUCK!!