I had the privilege of being the commencement speaker for IADT’s 2009 commencement ceremony! What an honor! On Friday, June 19 I addressed 130 graduating students and their family and friends. I wanted to share with you just a little bit of my message.

I asked my own college age daughter who ironically is completing her own degree in graphic design. ‘Honey, what do you think I should say to these people graduating from college today?’ She looked at me and said, ‘Make it simple, Mom, say – Yeah you! Whoo!’. That was my central message. To that I added the following:

“As you enter the world, I urge you to look at where you are today. Reflect on the choices that brought you to this moment and appreciate each of them for bringing here. Every one of you has a unique set of circumstances that lead to you to this moment. A moment we all get to share together.  It may have been trials and tribulations, victories and joys that brought you to this institution, kept you committed to courses, and ultimately brought you to be honorably seated at this ceremony.

Your educational experience, no matter how far you decide to follow its course, has undeniably tied you to place you are in now. Be present at each and every point of your life. Tomorrow will bring about choices to be made, choices that will eventually lead you to a new today.

Some say the future is unsure, well of course it is. It always has been and always will be. Your choice to pursue an education at IADT  was a brilliant one, because it’s yours. Your choice to study the fields of graphic and interior design, fashion, gaming, or digital media production is a brilliant, because it’s yours.

I am not spending time advising you on how to move forward or what to look for in this life because now is what you have, the second before and the second after. The rest comes without any help from you. I congratulate you on your choices, on being here. Where you decide to go is of little consequence right now. Whether you choose to go on to more schooling, enter the workforce or an intern program, get married, or travel the world; today is what holds meaning to you.

Each night before one of my kids’ birthday, I will sit on the edge of their bed and say to them ‘enjoy this day for it is the last day in your whole life that you will be 6 or 12 or 18.’ To each of you I say, enjoy this moment it is that last day if your whole life you will be graduating with this degree.”

Tags: commencement speech, speaker

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