Speech

Because my parents fled in time, I escaped Hitler. Because of America's generosity, I escaped Stalin. Because of the vision of the Truman-Marshall generation, I have been privileged to live my life in freedom. Millions have still never had that opportunity.

This is your time. Take it on. Don't be afraid to lean into the wind, love the earth in all of its natural glories and take care of each other.

There is no delete button for bigotry.

Idealism is not a paralyzing but a liberating force, and to strive for principles, even if the journey is never completed, is to tap a vast source of energy.

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them — work, family, health, friends and spirit. Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass.

We all live under the same sky, but we do not have the same horizon.

Is education for the pursuit of knowledge or for the pursuit of significance? How you answer makes a difference.

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls — work, family, health, friends, and spirit. Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered.

Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying. Don't give up when you still have something to give.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim. Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.

It will be a little messy, but embrace the mess. It will be complicated, but rejoice in the complications. And don't be frightened: you can always change your mind. I know: I've had four careers and three husbands.