Graduation

Adam and me




Here's everyone in my family and Adam's family that came.




Proof that I finished just in the nick of time!



David McCullough gave the commencement speech. Maybe this sounds cliche, but it was inspiring to me. The transcript can be found here, but I wanted to share some of the tidbits I really enjoyed.

"So what will we build in the years ahead? What will you build, you of the new generation upon whom so many high hopes are riding? How will history regard you in years to come - you who are part of this over-ripe, shadowed, uncertain time which has understandably given rise to so many grave forebodings about the future?
Will you help navigate the troubled waters? Will you rise above avarice and indifference and self-pity? Will you be a generation of builders, not more mere spectators who leave creativity and performance and responsibility to others?
Will you take what you have learned here as inspiration to still greater learning?
Will you make your lives count?
The easy answer is time will tell. The better answer, I think, is it's up to you."

"Just because certain basic, familiar elements have been part of our way of life for so long does not mean they can be taken for granted. They must never be taken for granted.
Because there have been public libraries everywhere for so long, free to all, does not mean they will therefore go on without our appreciation and support. There are, it may surprise you to know, more public libraries in America than there are McDonalds. But their infinite value should never be underestimated just because they are so familiar."

I don't know if everyone who reads this knows, but I work in Salt Lake county's public library system, and might get be Masters in Library Science someday to be a librarian. Adam and I question if what he said is for sure true, but I think it's really awesome if it is.

"Remember that common sense is by no means common."

"So read more history, you who are about to commence to the next part of the journey. Read all you can in all fields. Never stop reading and especially books that have stood the test of time.
And make it your practice to ask people about themselves and what they've learned from experience. Don't ever forget that there isn't a man or woman, no matter their appearance or station in life, who doesn't know something, or how to do something, that you don't."

And this was his closing statement:

"And wherever you go in your travels to come, and I'm sure you will go far, before checking out of a hotel or motel, be sure to tip the maid."