Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony Remarks

Congratulations Graduates!

One of the great opportunities of being president of the University is that I get to give you some last important words of advice before you go out into the world.

So, please listen carefully. Here are 10 pieces of sagacious advice I want to leave you with this evening:

1. The single most important characteristic of successful highly educated people like you is they don’t believe they have finished their education. Keep learning. It is the only way to succeed.
2. Based on years and years of experience and thousands of miles of traveling on commercial airlines, I can tell you with near complete certainty that your luggage will not fit in the overhead bin. Check your bag so we can get the plane boarded and get out there.
3. Despite what you may have heard, there is truth. As an educated person, it is your obligation to seek it. As an educated person, it is your obligation to speak it.
4. Unfortunately, you will find people in the world who dismiss you, ignore you, take advantage of you and some will show outright disdain for you. If you want to develop your skills at dealing with such people, get a house cat. You will have the opportunity to deal with rejection every day of your life.
5. If you want to persuade somebody of something, the first thing you have to do is listen to them very carefully. Understanding another person’s perspective–even if you disagree with that perspective–is the only way to get that person to understand what you think.
6. Be optimistic. After all, it is theoretically possible for the Browns to win the Super Bowl.
7. Most of the Earth is water. Learn to swim!
8. Some of you will become billionaires. When you do, please do not build space rockets. We have enough of those guys already. Instead, buy yourself a nice car and give the rest to The University of Akron … hey, it was worth a shot.
9. Civilized societies embrace a common good. This good comes from mutual respect, from taking care of one another and from lending a hand to those in need. Nurture this precious commonwealth through a life of service.
10. Most important, love is not a thing. Love is everything! Find love. Give love. This is the way to be happy.

Congratulations to all of you. Take care of one another and remember, you are always a Zip!