Congratulations, members of the Harvard Class of 2020.
Within the hour, you will finally take your place at the head of what Ralph Waldo Emerson, Harvard Class of 1821, called that 鈥渓ong winding train reaching back into eternity,鈥� a procession of alumni who have helped to improve the lot of humanity now for close to 400 years.
I am sure you鈥檝e imagined this moment for quite some time. But let鈥檚 face it: It鈥檚 far different than any of us could have predicted when this semester began, but there are actually some upsides to this kind of celebration. For example:
Everyone you love鈥攁nd everyone who loves you鈥攃an actually attend. No tickets are required.
No scrambling for good seats in Harvard Yard early this morning. And none of you had to worry about where you were going to park on this most momentous of days.
Those loved ones who鈥檝e once again become your housemates and your roommates get to give you a big hug literally as your degrees are conferred. And just think: You鈥檙e the first class in the 384-year-history of Harvard that can actually say that.
And I also can guarantee that there will be no rain today.
Two months of pandemic cannot be allowed to overshadow your years of hard work鈥攜our many late nights and early mornings鈥攜our countless personal pep talks (and, let鈥檚 face it, we all do them!) that turned self-doubt into self-determination.
Faced with obstacles, each of you mustered your courage, set your sights, and overcame the insurmountable. You expanded your understanding of who you are and what you can do. And you discovered the truth about yourself鈥攁 veritas worth pursuing if there ever was one.
But you did not get to this moment in time on your own. The people who are sitting with you today in many cases literally sacrificed so that you could be here. So I want you to take a moment and turn to them now and say 鈥渢hank you.鈥� 鈥淭hank you鈥� for helping to make you the people that you are. 鈥淭hank you鈥� for helping you to see this day actually come to pass. Go ahead. Take your time. Give them a big hug and a kiss鈥攖hey deserve it!
To all the parents, siblings, friends and loved ones who are there with you, on behalf of all of us at Harvard, thank you for all you鈥檝e done to help make this day possible. Thank you for entrusting these remarkable graduates to us. It鈥檚 been our privilege to teach them, to get to know them, and also to learn from them. Their future is very bright, and we are very proud of them too.
To the class of 2020, today is about you. Celebrate your achievements. Savor your successes. Rest鈥攅ven for a day鈥攗pon your laurels. But only for a day because tomorrow is about everyone else.
How will you use your gifts and your Harvard education to make the world a better place for others? How will you help to ensure that others have opportunities similar to those that you鈥檝e enjoyed? And how will you create a future in which all people are equipped to do their best work and to be their best selves?
Humanity needs people who are willing to devote themselves to asking questions, hard questions, sometimes even uncomfortable questions鈥攑eople who are willing to work hard to perfect this imperfect world that we inhabit鈥攑eople who care more about others than about themselves.
You are those people. And when we gather in person sometime later to celebrate your graduation鈥攚hen we have a chance to relish all the pomp and circumstance in one another鈥檚 company that we cannot do today鈥擨 will want to know how you are helping to improve the lot of humanity鈥攚here you鈥檝e been and where you think you鈥檙e going.
Harvard, as it turns out, does not pull the long and winding train behind it. No, that long and winding train which you鈥檝e now joined, pushes Harvard鈥攁nd the entire world鈥攊nto the future.
I look forward to the day when Emerson鈥檚 vision comes to life for us all 鈥� when we can all once again be together. Until then, congratulations, to members of the Class of 2020. We are so proud of each and every one of you. You have accomplished great things; you鈥檙e going to accomplish even more.
Good luck to each and every one of you鈥攁nd Godspeed.