Commencement represents a victory for each and every graduate.
It is a victory over the status quo, and for risking the time and commitment to get an education instead of opting for a short-term paycheck, immediate social and economic pressures, and passivity. It is a victory for you. Yes, you can be and will be all of that. You have reached a major goal in your life, and we at your university are enormously proud of you. For me, commencement carries special meaning.