Since the dawn of history, we have taken the time to mark milestones and accomplishments. This gives us the opportunity to pause and savor our accomplishments. They also give us a reason to celebrate—and who’s against a celebration?
Yesterday at Yankee Stadium, the class of 2023 marked the end of their academic journey. It was a beautiful day, and the stadium was full of smiling faces. NYU honored some great people, including outgoing NYU president Andy Hamilton. The theme I picked up was one of perseverance. Since our motto is “perstare et praestare” or “to persevere and to excel,” that is appropriate.
Doing what we do takes some perseverance. It helps when our efforts show real results. Commencement wraps up the results of our labor into one neat ceremony. If you haven’t, I strongly encourage you to volunteer for next year’s Grad Alley or as a greeter during Commencement. The smiling faces of our graduates, families, and friends help me remember why I’m in higher education and why I’m at NYU.
You might not think you have much impact, but NYU is a complicated and interdependent institution. We all contribute in our own ways. These gifted and energetic young people who have the benefit of graduating from one of the world’s great universities are on their way to change the world. They could not have done it without you.
So, give your loved ones a hug and yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it. We’ve just sent another 22,000 NYU grads on their way to change the world.