2016 UCLA College Commencement

Speech

Hello, everyone. Congratulations to the Class of 2016! I am glad to be here with you. I’m thrilled to celebrate your achievement and the beginnings of your next adventures.

So much has gone into bringing us all to this moment. You have studied and questioned and practiced. Your families have sacrificed and supported and guided. Your teachers have inspired and challenged and mentored. And, who knows, there might have even been one or two university administrators or staff members who helped out along the way.

Your UCLA community, your home community, your family, everyone here today and everyone who could not be here — all of those who helped make today happen — they all take pride in your accomplishment and celebrate with you.

So to everyone, students, parents, relatives, friends, faculty and staff, my thanks and congratulations!

We are here to celebrate. But we are also aware that today’s celebration takes place in the wake of last week’s tragedy. Last week, we were reminded how fragile we are. We were reminded how vulnerable communities can be. We were reminded that in times of trouble, we must take refuge in each other’s compassion and kindness. We were also reminded that we need courage and resilience in times of crises, but that the bonds of love and community are indispensable to health and healing.

I am addressing you as the Class of 2016, but really you are all individuals. You have come from different places, brought different talents, made different contributions.

For many of you, coming to UCLA was a dream come true. For many of you, UCLA was where you began to dream anew. For all of you, I hope UCLA showed that you can make your dreams a reality.

One thing I am certain about — at this moment, you probably don’t want to hear a long speech. You don’t want to hear someone trying to be “profound” by quoting Plato or trying to be “cool” by quoting Drake. So, I’ll spare you both. You’re welcome. Short and sweet: I get it.

However, I do want to get one thing across today. I want to leave you with this one idea that is, for me, axiomatic: That is: The world needs you. That’s it. Who you are, what you have to give — the world needs it. Now.

When we look at our world, our countries and our communities, we can see much that is right as well as much that is wrong, much that needs repair. And you need only to look as far as our own city, Los Angeles, to appreciate the urgency of your attention and action.

Yes, you are entering a world with enormous challenges. But you are entering a world that needs all that you bring to it.

The intelligence that got you in to UCLA? The world needs that.

The perseverance that allowed you to flourish at UCLA? The world needs that.

Your ability to form relationships, cooperate and solve problems with those from different backgrounds? Well, the world really won’t survive without that.

What you brought to UCLA, what you have learned here, how you have grown here, what you take away from here — the world needs all of it.

The world needs people like your classmate Kim Anyadike, who made national headlines when she was just 15 — by piloting a four-seat plane from Compton, California, to Newport News, Virginia. Kim was accompanied by one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, a member of the all-black air squadron that helped win World War II. At her stops across our nation, 50 of the Tuskegee Airmen came out to greet her and autograph her plane. However, what really distinguishes Kim is that she has gone on to become a registered emergency medical technician, and a member of UCLA’s Flying Samaritans, which brings volunteer medical care to Tijuana, and a mentor to at-risk youth in South Los Angeles, near where she grew up. That spirit, that daring, that commitment to others, that’s what the world needs.

The world needs Nancy Quintanilla. Not only was Nancy co-president of our chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, she was also involved in clinical work and medical programs for the underserved. A volunteer Spanish translator for two years at Venice Family Clinic — which serves low-income and uninsured patients — she also leads community talks on topics like teen health, the importance of vaccination and sexual health. She plans to stay at UCLA for a public health minor and plans to work toward an M.D. and a master’s in public health. Nancy, the world needs your dedication to public service.

Justine Bateman. Yes, that Justine Bateman, the Emmy-nominated star of the TV show Family Ties and an activist for net neutrality. Justine started UCLA at 46. She designed her own independent degree program, started two blogs to highlight students who enrolled in college later in life and is looking to innovate in the digital media industry. Justine, the world needs your talent for reinvention.

The world needs Kevin Hale, who distinguished himself here as both an American Indian Student Association peer counselor and as Pow Wow coordinator. Kevin also dedicated 400 hours to internships in addiction studies and served as a residential and outpatient Substance Abuse Counselor. Kevin now plans to get a master’s in social work from UCLA. Kevin, the world needs your empathy and commitment to mentorship.

Grant Guess is someone the world needs. With funding from the UCLA Global Citizens Fellowship and the Strauss Scholarship Foundation, he has spent two summers in Togo, helping develop an agri-business at a school, which helped fund the school’s services for young people with conditions ranging from Asperger’s and autism to cerebral palsy and brain damage. The world needs Grant’s compassion.

Jaemmie Cañas, a former foster youth and transfer student, came to UCLA shortly after a severe motorcycle accident. Jaemmie pushed herself to heal beyond the doctors’ expectations and demonstrated commitment to service through her leadership in the Bruin Resource Center, the Academic Advancement Program and her support of foster youth. She plans to attend law school and open her own nonprofit to serve LGBT and homeless youth. The world needs Jaemmie’s passion for supporting the vulnerable.

Chrissy Keenan. She is another classmate the world needs. A leader in efforts to prevent and draw awareness to sexual violence on campus and in the community, she was co-director of Bruin Consent Coalition and an intern in the Campus Assault Resources and Education office. Chrissy has been a spokesperson for educating students about “affirmative consent,” and the role each of us plays in preventing sexual misconduct and assault. Chrissy, the world needs you to help make it safer for all.

These are just a few members of the UCLA Class of 2016.

There are many, many more of you who have realized extraordinary achievements, who have made breakthroughs in the arts and sciences, who have dedicated time and energy to important causes, to making the world more fair, to understanding the world more deeply, to helping and healing others.

The university’s motto is “Let There Be Light.” I’m going to change that a bit here. I’m going to say “Let There Be Your Light.” Not someone else’s light. Your light.

Your light is not going to look exactly like the light of the classmates I have mentioned. It’s not going to look exactly like your siblings’ light. It’s not going to look like your parents’ or your professors’ light. It’s going to look like your light. It’s going to shine through you in your own distinct, brilliant, bizarre and beautiful ways.

Have faith that if you let that light shine — if you let it shine so that you can be a light for others — you will be the best version of yourself.

We call Bruins “The Optimists.” Optimism is not blind faith that everything will magically be alright. Optimism is the conviction that intelligence, hard work, understanding, courage, compassion and creativity can make tomorrow better than today. Optimism is knowing that only those qualities, only that conviction, have made today better than yesterday.

You will need that optimism in the years ahead. You will need that optimism to help you get through the hard times, and that optimism will be rewarded when you enjoy the good times.

So, as you go forth, remember that you have what the world needs. And that the world needs you.

You at your bravest. You at your most insightful. You at your most loving. You at your most creative. You at your most committed. You at your most optimistic.

Class of 2016, congratulations and Go Bruins!