Speech

You are about to experience the first taste of freedom in your life and that won't be freedom from your parents. You are about to be free from yourself, your old self, the self of your youth. You are, in many ways, about to be born.

Through angers, losses, ambition, ignorance, ennui, what you are picks its way.

Be different, be smart, but most of all accept that heavy torch from me and my generation: be the future. Believe that within you is the ability to always make it a better place than this one.

Whatever blocks you encounter, you have learned that there is a way over, around or through them. It is not those obstacles that inhibit your progress but your confidence, and will to break the inertia of fear and doubt.

Whether or not you think you can, you are right.

Don't expect your ship to come in unless you sent one out.

The things which seem like heartbreaking setbacks sometimes turn out to be lucky breaks.

If no one would give me a chance as a reporter, I should take a chance. If no one would give me an opportunity, I would have to make my own opportunity.

Learning what you don't want to do is the next best thing to figuring out what you do want to do.

Your necessary fire is not only necessary for you, it is necessary to the world itself.

One of the more powerful outbreaks of happiness and meaning in your life will occur when you pair your passion and the world's need.

If you err, may it be for too much audacity, and not too little. For you really are enough.