When falling, the tendency is to tighten up, to brace for impact. But in truth, the safest thing one can do is remain calm — even curious about the shifting world around you.
speech graduation resilience
Michelle Yeoh
Harvard Law School Class Day 2023, 2023
Your life isn't some big break. It's about taking one significant life-transforming step at a time.
speech graduation patience
Oprah Winfrey
Colorado College Commencement 2019, 2019
Your purpose is to do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.
speech graduation purpose
Oprah Winfrey
Colorado College Commencement 2019, 2019
When a grown man says he wants a cookie, he wants a cookie. The art of doctoring is negotiating with hope.
speech graduation empathy
Siddhartha Mukherjee
University of Southern California Commencement 2018, 2018
Don't be scared if you don't do things in the right order, or if you don't do some things at all. If you have a checklist, good for you. Structured ambition can sometimes be motivating. But also, feel free to let it go.
speech graduation patience
Mindy Kaling
Dartmouth College Commencement 2018, 2018
Real success requires step after step after step after step. It requires choice after choice.
speech graduation perseverance
Jesmyn Ward
Tulane University Commencement 2018, 2018
Take a step that will lead you toward the realization of your dream, and then take another, and another, and another.
speech graduation perseverance
Jesmyn Ward
Tulane University Commencement 2018, 2018
Persist. Be patient. Be well.
speech graduation perseverance
Jesmyn Ward
Tulane University Commencement 2018, 2018
Live each day as if you will live forever.
speech graduation patience
Peter Thiel
Hamilton College Commencement 2016, 2016
Gear yourself for the long haul. Success, however small, however incomplete, success is still success. Better is good. It may not be perfect, it may not be great, but it's good. That's how progress happens.
speech graduation perseverance
Barack Obama
Rutgers University Commencement 2016, 2016
I didn't know who I was or what I was going to do with my life when I finished college. I wasn't any clearer about my direction than the day I graduated high school.
speech graduation self discovery
Maya Rudolph
Tulane University Commencement 2015, 2015
There will be times when your best is not enough. There can be many reasons for this, but as long as you give your best, you'll be okay.
speech graduation resilience
Robert De Niro
NYU Tisch School of the Arts Commencement 2015, 2015