In one of the most personal moments of his address, Ignatieff reflected on the pressure that graduates face to conform to the expectations of family, peers, and society. He urged them to resist the temptation to live according to someone else's script, arguing that authenticity is the foundation of a fulfilling life. Ignatieff acknowledged that forging your own path requires courage—the very fearlessness he had been advocating throughout his speech. He recognized that disappointing others' expectations can be painful, but insisted that the alternative—living a borrowed life—is far worse. True freedom, he argued, begins with the decision to take ownership of your own choices and their consequences.