BEST COMMENCEMENT SPEECHES OF 2017

Some of the best years of a person’s life are spent in college; these are the formative years, and as you’re headed out, what better than life advice from someone that’s exited those gates, walked down the path and experienced life? Delivered to outgoing batches of graduates at universities, commencement speeches do just that.

While commencement speech season 2018 is in full swing, let’s take a look back at some of the best from 2017:

Michael Bloomberg, Villanova University

Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City delivered one of the most potently relevant commencement speeches of 2017, probing the meaning of patriotism, its current state and courage — not merely to face the unknown, but the challenge of our own fallible selves.

“Doubt a little of your own infallibility. Seven words of advice that would be hard to improve upon in any commencement address. Those seven words are credited with helping to assure adoption and ratification of what has proven to be a true work of genius.”

Oprah Winfrey, Smith University

Among the most influential women in the world, this “Queen of all Media” delivered a speech that advised graduates to seek purpose, find their calling and give back to the world.

“This understanding that there is an alignment between who you are and what you do is what real authentic, what authentic empowerment is. It’s what Gary Zukav calls in his book, Seat of the Soul, the real, true empowerment. The only empowerment is when your personality, when you use who you are, what you’ve been given, the gifts you hold, to serve the calling that you have been brought to earth to serve.”

Will Ferrell, University of Southern California

Delivering his commencement speech littered with a series of jokes and quips, this comedian and actor encouraged students to pursue their dreams, stay humble and look at the world beyond themselves.

“No matter how cliché it may sound you will never truly be successful until you learn to give beyond yourself. Empathy and kindness are the true signs of emotional intelligence, and that’s what Viv and I try to teach our boys.”

Joe Biden, Colby College

The former vice-president of the USA explored their present socio-political climate, encouraging them to keep growing, adapting, and in the process, sticking by their ideals no matter how bleak the circumstances.

“Folks, Class of 2017, no graduating class gets to choose the world into which they graduate into. That history has been written by those who came before you, but now it’s your job to put your hands on the wheel and bend that arc of history closer to where we want to be as a nation.”

Mark Zuckerberg, Harvard University

Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, the world’s largest social media platform revisited Harvard to deliver the 366th commencement address. With stories from his own life and journey, he encouraged students primarily to find their purpose.

“Purpose is that sense that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, that we are needed, that we have something better ahead to work for. Purpose is what creates true happiness.”

Inspired yet? Do you agree with these values of education, giving back, and a sense of purpose — those building blocks of a flourishing society? Has college helped you grow and leverage your own career?

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Vibha Kagzi, Founder and CEO, ReachIvy, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Bachelor of Science from Carnegie Mellon University. She has also pursued courses at the University of California, Berkeley, the London School of Economics and the Indian School of Business.

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