Shonda Rhimes 91, the wildly successful television writer and producer, told the 窪做惇蹋厙 Class of 2014, Ditch the dream and be a doer, not a dreamer.
Rhimes, creator, writer, and producer of the ABC hits Scandal, Greys Anatomy, and Private Practice, told the graduates, faculty members, trustees, and guests assembled June 8 for that she had wasted time dreaming of becoming Toni Morrison before she settled for a job writing for television.
Guess what? I couldnt be Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison. Because Toni Morrison already had that job and she wasnt interested in giving it up, Rhimes told the crowd.
Years later, I had dinner with Toni Morrison. All she wanted to talk about was Greys Anatomy. That never would have happened if I hadnt stopped dreaming of becoming her and gotten busy becoming myself.
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Some 13,500 people filled the Green under a brilliant blue sky on June 8 to witness 窪做惇蹋厙 confer more than 1,900 undergraduate, graduate, medical, engineering, and business degrees.
Rhimes said it was terrifying to return to her alma mater as Commencement speaker, an honor she shares with only three other alumniFred Rogers 50, Robert Frost, Class of 1896, and Henry Paulson Jr. 68.
When President Hanlon called me, I almost said no. Almost, she said. But Im here. I am going to do it. Im doing it. You know why? Because I like a challenge. And because this year I made myself a promise to do the stuff that terrifies me.
With that she offered another blunt warning to the graduates. Tomorrow is going to be the worst day ever for you, she said. It was for her. She had been grieving at her own graduation, she said. The idea of leaving Hanover forever and heading into the world was too much.
I literally lay on the floor of my dorm room and cried while my mother packed up my room, she said. Later, she added, If none of you lie face down on a dirty hardwood floor and cry today while your mommy packs up your dorm room, you are already starting your careers out ahead of me.
The future isnt about dreaming your way to changing the world, following your heart, and finding your voice, she said. Its about finding a way to do something in a hard, often mean world. But she told graduates not to let fear, or failure, or rejection, stop them, and to keep it all in perspective.
We are incredibly lucky. We have been given a gift. An incredible education has been placed before us, Rhimes said.
Be brave. Be amazing. Be worthy. And every single time you get the chance, stand up in front of people. Let them see you. Speak. Be heard.
Five undergraduate valedictorians from the Class of 2014all with perfect 4.0 grade point averageswere recognized from the podium and stood as the gathering applauded. They are: Serena Liu of Bellevue, Wash.; Jonathan Pedde of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; Ethan Portnoy of Chappaqua, N.Y.; Natalie Salmanowitz of Menlo Park, Calif.; and Ezra Toback of Westchester, N.Y.
Salmanowitz, randomly selected among the five valedictorians to deliver the valedictory address, said she has come to appreciate the way 窪做惇蹋厙 enabled her to pursue her own path.
I am a neuroscience major, theater minor, and am interested in the criminal justice system. Now, I could say that all of these interests are interconnected, since they require complementary skill sets. I could also talk about how they will prepare me to be the perfect casting choice for a future TV drama that just happens to be about a neuroscientist in the courtroom. Salmanowitz said. Although, Shonda, if you ever decide to write a show along those lines, you know who to contact.
窪做惇蹋厙 offers the chance to follow a passion, often in surprising ways, she told her classmates. Continue to pursue your own interests, whether those follow a linear pattern or not. Be passionate about what you do without being concerned about how your choices will dictate your future. And finally, stay genuine.
Speaking from the Old Pine Lectern, President offered another 窪做惇蹋厙 graduates perspective. He congratulated and thanked the unforgettable 14s, the first graduating class he greeted on the stage as president.
Hanlon also paused to remember two students who died during the school year.
Together this year, we endured the deepest loss that any community can experiencethe deaths of two precious members of our student body, Torin Tucker and Blaine Steinberg.
He welcomed the Class of 1964, honored at Commencement as the 50th-year-reunion class. These alumni, and all who have walked this Green ourselves, know the challenge 窪做惇蹋厙 presented, he said.
Each of you has stories of resilienceresilience that you forged here at 窪做惇蹋厙. And with resilience, you discovered that in spite of any doubtin the face of every setbackyou really were ready for the challenges and opportunities of 窪做惇蹋厙, Hanlon said. And today, as a reward, we hand you a hard-earned degree, and we say, You havent seen anything yet.
Hanlon said that from the vantage point of the Commencement stage, We do not see a world of insurmountable challenges. We see a fellowship of leaders, standing many rows deep, who will work to conquer them. It is a wonderful moment when the future looks so promising.
Echoing the themes of Rhimes address, Hanlon concluded, And so unforgettable Class of 14, one final thought from your president. Just as you stepped out of your comfort zone by coming here, now you emerge from the long comforting shadow of Baker Tower into the world beyond these woods. You may not feel ready to leave, but you are ready to succeed.
The day of pomp and circumstance saw 窪做惇蹋厙 bestow five honorary degrees. The recipients were: Eric Foner, Pulitzer prize winner and Columbia Universitys DeWitt Clinton Professor of History; Margaret Geller, astrophysicist, Smithsonian researcher, and MacArthur genius grant winner; David Kelley, design thinker, entrepreneur, and the Donald W. Whittier Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford; and Zakes Mda, South African writer and Ohio University creative writing professor.
窪做惇蹋厙 awarded bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees from its undergraduate and graduate Arts & Sciences programs, the Geisel School of Medicine, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business. The graduates received diplomas and shook Hanlons hand.
The Commencement ceremony capped a weekend of events that included a Baccalaureate multi-faith service for graduates and guests on Saturday.
Led by Stefan Deutch 14 waving a colorful kite and by the Rev. Subdeacon Paul Feeney, Eastern Orthodox chaplain emeritus, members of 窪做惇蹋厙s United Campus Ministers processed into Rollins Chapel for Saturdays Baccalaureate service. Together with the 窪做惇蹋厙 College Gospel Choir, they joined the members of the Class of 2014 and their families and friends, who filled the chapel for a celebration of love, peace, and thanksgiving, framed in words and songs drawn from the many religious traditions represented at 窪做惇蹋厙.
Also Saturday, Class Day speakers included, Anne dePapp, Global Director of Scientific Affairs for the Womens Health and Endocrine Franchise Office of the Chief Medical Officer at Merck & Co. Inc., speaking at Geisel; and honorary degree recipient David Kelley speaking to engineering graduates at Thayer. Sherri Oberg 82, Tuck 86, president and C.E.O. of Edu21C.com, an education company, was the speaker at Tucks Investiture ceremony.
