When I was asked to speak at commencement this year, my first inclination was to say “No”. I didn’t think I had anything to say. Then, I remembered something important: I’m a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. I ALWAYS have something to say. And that is the beauty of a Sarah Lawrence education. After today you will continue to go out in the world and not only will you say things, but you will also do things. Here, you have become artists, thinkers, scientists (yes, scientists). You have learned languages, monologues, equations, and theories and most importantly, you are the activists who will push this country, this world to do better. And today, you become graduates of Sarah Lawrence College.
Laura von Holt graduated with me in 2002 and as a one of my writing partners since we took a class with Cassandra Medley in our sophomore year, she helped me think through what I should say to you today. Together we remembered that we graduated in the aftermath of 9/11, a time that changed the way we lived in ways we probably still can’t quantify just as you are graduating during what we hope are the waning days of a pandemic that has changed how we live in ways we still can’t quantify. The world that we live in requires us to fight harder than we should have to, and possibly for longer than feels right. But I suppose what gives me comfort is knowing that a Sarah Lawrence education means you are ready for this world and if this world is not ready for you, let it be known that you are not willing to wait for change.
Standing here in front of you, I can’t help but think back to the days before my own graduation. I was walking up Bates hill and I had to take a moment to pause when I realized that in a few short days I would have accomplished something special. I would walk across Westlands’ lawn and I would be handed a piece of paper that could in no way, ever communicate the sum of the experiences I’d had on this campus. I may never be able to explain to anyone the wild, intellectual, fun, bewildering four years I spent as part of this community. You might never be able to explain it to anyone either, but it is YOUR four years, and with over twenty thousand alumni across the globe, we, are YOUR community. And, so it is my pleasure to officially welcome you to the greater community of Sarah Lawrence alumni.
Remarks as prepared for delivery