2/11/2015

Mytake:Excerptsfrommycommencementspeech

Excerptsfrommycommencementspeech
IwouldliketospeakduringCommencementbecauseIhaveastorytotell:oneof
survivalandhope.Iowemuchofmycurrentcareerplansandfuturedreamsto
UCSB.Throughinnumerableinteractionswithstudentsandteachersoncampus,
I have been able to better understand my abilities and redefine what I can
contribute to the world. The next few paragraphs are excerpts from my
hypotheticalspeechduringcommencement.
Itisimportanttostepback,withdrawintoyourselfandseekoutwhatmakesyou
trulyhappy.Suchalonetimeiswhenyouunderstandyourpurpose.Ifyourdream
requiresyoutotakeanoffthechartspath,peoplewillstare.Peoplestarewhen
youdosomethingextraordinary.EveryonelookedatmeasthoughIwascrazy
whenIstartedwritingmybook.Youloseperspectivethisisacceptableaslong
as you find joy in what you are doing. When you descend into a personal
underground to accomplish your goal, no one will be by your side. When you
achieve,however,theworldwillcelebrateyoufortakingtheboldstep.
Weliveinaverycallousworld.Iaskthatwetaketimeoffourbusylivestolisten
toourfriendstrials.IntheCollegeofEngineering,weliketowalkaboutlikeLord
of the Living Dead during deadlines. Colleagues thought me mad for spending
timeempathizingwithothersplight.Ialwaysheardmyfriendssay:Whoisthis
girlandwhatdoesshewant?.Ihadnoconcreteanswer,then,exceptthatitwas
easiertohearpeopleswoesthansay,writecode.
Youmightaskmewhyyoushouldlistentoyourfriends.Youmightnotevensee
these people after you leave school. I have some results. They are probably
more profound than all the fantastic research we do at UC. It turns out that
kindnessfollowsthefirstlawofthermodynamics.Istandheretodaybecauseof
the unexpected generosity of a few busy graduate students. They are in the
audienceforme.TheywerethereatatimewhenIdidnotbelieveanythinggood
couldhappentome.Thankyouverymuch.Whenfriendslistentoyou,itwillbe
wise to remember that they are giving you their most precious asset: time. In
return,youshouldnotmerelybethankful,buttreatthemlikeroyalty.Byextending
thiskindnessinourcommunity,wearetakingdefinitivestepstowardsmaking
theworldabetterplacetolivein.
Iamheretotellyouthatthecomfortzoneisanillusion.Often,inlife,youwillfind
yourselfinasituationwhereyouarethebestinthecrowd.Yourealizethatyou
arenotbeingchallengedsufficientlyandthatyourpeersarenotbringingoutthe
intellectualbestinyou.HereisathoughtexperimentIliketodointhissituation.
Thinkaboutthetimewhenyouhadachievedapersonalhighandcompareitthe
present you. If they are not the same, I call for some serious introspection.
Remember that by being in this illusory comfort zone rut, you are doing a
data:text/htmlcharset=utf8,%3Ch3%20class%3D%22posttitle%20entrytitle%22%20itemprop%3D%22name%22%20style%3D%22margin%3A%200px%3B

1/2

2/11/2015

Mytake:Excerptsfrommycommencementspeech

disservice not only to yourself, but to your stellar education and all the people
whoworkedhardtohelpyouachieveyourbest.
Comingoutofsuchasecurezoneisnoteasy.IwouldbearomanticfoolifItold
youso.Youmighthavetoacquireskillsyoudidnotevenknowexisted,sacrifice
your comforts, let go of time spent with friends and family, and destroy any
inhibitionthatmightstandinthewayofsuccess.
When you spiral upwards because of all the hard work, you introspect on your
success.ImaginedrivingaMaseratitoMalibuwithyourspouseandchildren.You
realize that it was thethe wonderful education you received at UC, that helped
you truly understand your potential. I would like to conclude on this highly
liberatingnote.Letustakeamomenttocelebratethecollectiveachievementsof
theclassof2014.Congratulationstoallofyou.Wedidit!

data:text/htmlcharset=utf8,%3Ch3%20class%3D%22posttitle%20entrytitle%22%20itemprop%3D%22name%22%20style%3D%22margin%3A%200px%3B

2/2