Kordestani's third 'aha moment' was the realization that life is all about the path—and that the path is rarely a straight line. He told graduates that their education and degree were 'only a priceless first step,' not a definition of who they must become. An engineering graduate might become a green technology entrepreneur; a philosophy major might lead an international ballet company. Kordestani spoke from deep personal experience. He had studied electrical engineering at SJSU but was redirected into product marketing by an HP recruiter who recognized his outgoing personality. That single conversation at the campus placement office changed the entire course of his career, eventually leading him through a series of startups to Google. His message was that your degree opens doors, but your identity should never be confined by it.