Let me just take it in. And I know that these days, that can seem counterintuitive, because we live in such an instantaneous age. So as you prepare for the next stage of what I know will be a remarkable journey, I'll leave you with a few quick pieces of . You may also be feeling some real anxiety about venturing out into the world beyond these walls. (Applause.). And I know that these little indignities are obviously nothing compared to what folks across the country are dealing with every single day -- those nagging worries that youre going to get stopped or pulled over for absolutely no reason; the fear that your job application will be overlooked because of the way your name sounds; the agony of sending your kids to schools that may no longer be separate, but are far from equal; the realization that no matter how far you rise in life, how hard you work to be a good person, a good parent, a good citizen -- for some folks, it will never be enough. And, graduates, you all have faced challenges far greater than anything I or my family have ever experienced, challenges that most college students could never even imagine. And those feelings are playing out in communities like Baltimore and Ferguson and so many others across this country. Michelle Obama: (08:23) Oberlin is likely the only college in America that I could have attended nearly two centuries ago, and I am honored to be part of the extraordinary legacy of this great institution. As many of you know, I grew up in a working class family in Chicago. Michelle Obama: (09:57) Former First Lady Michelle Obama gave a commencement address online to the graduating class of 2020. Because we all know that public universities have always been one of the greatest drivers of our prosperity, lifting countless people into the middle class, creating jobs and wealth all across this nation. Look, I love our daughters more than anything in the world, more than life itself. If youre living in a constant state of fear, how much farther behind will you be after months in quarantine and without a job. Were seeing the consequences of that right now. MRS. OBAMA: Wow! And at the end of the day, by staying true to the me Ive always known, I found that this journey has been incredibly freeing. Think about the millions of folks who got out to vote on Election Day, waiting in the cold and rain in lines that stretched for hours, refusing to leave until they made their voices heard. Resources and Support for College Students, Resources and Support for Conservatory Students, Oberlin Marks 2020 Commencement Weekend with Virtual Celebrations, College Announces 2019 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients, Main Library Will Be Named for Activist, Alumna Mary Church Terrell. Full Transcript of Michelle Obama's D.N.C. Subscribe. Graduates, its all important and we need every bit of it. If we dislike someones Facebook post, we just un-follow them, we un-friend them. I think your valedictorian put it best -- and this is a quote -- he said, The sole irreplaceable component of my CCNY experience came from learning alongside people with life experiences strikingly different from my own. He said, I have learned that diversity in human experience gives rise to diversity in thought, which creates distinct ideas and methods of problem solving. That was an okay quote. Speech Michelle Obama, the former first lady, was the keynote speaker on the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. And I decided to tackle them in the way that felt most authentic to me -- in a way that was both substantive and strategic, but also fun and, hopefully, inspiring. (Applause.) To celebrate the graduates whose final years of school have been upended, former first lady Michelle Obama and former president Barack Obama are taking part in a YouTube special. And Im so proud of you both -- and to your families, congratulations. It's a hard time, and everyone's feeling. And your salutatorian, whose Yemeni roots inspired her to study Yemini womens writing and to advocate for girls in her community, urging them to find their own voices, to tell their own stories. By channeling that discomfort you feel into activism and a democracy that was designed to respond to those who vote. So graduates, I hope that what youre going through right now can be your wake up call that it pushes you, not just to think about what kind of career you want to build. Would I be more like Laura Bush, or Hillary Clinton, or Nancy Reagan? Michelle Obama: The story of our families. 19). And in many ways, this is a big day for me too. See, that is how you will rise above the noise and shape the revolutions of your time. These are just four of the nearly 4,000 unique and amazing stories in this graduating class - stories that have converged here at City College, this dynamic, inclusive place where you all have had the chance to really get to know each other, to listen to each others languages, to enjoy each others food -- lasagna, obviously -- (laughter) -- music, and holidays. If my generation did trust me, wed have fixed the whole of this long time ago, but that doesnt mean we should feel hopeless. More than anything else, graduates, that is the American story. ), And, graduates, I think we should give another shout-out to your families, of course, all the families. But eventually, I realized that if I wanted to keep my sanity and not let others define me, there was only one thing I could do, and that was to have faith in Gods plan for me. Epic increases in college financial aid. I have seen how leaders who rule by intimidation - leaders who demonize and dehumanize entire groups of people - often do so because they have nothing else to offer. (Applause.). But most of all, I want to acknowledge all of you - the brilliant, talented, ambitious, accomplished, and all-around outstanding members of the class of 2016! What kinds of issues would I take on? Well done! Beyonc Commencement Speech | Dear Class Of 2020 Beyonc 25.6M subscribers Subscribe 90K 1.2M views 2 years ago Dear Class of 2020 is a virtual commencement celebration bringing together. Its the news, without the news. (Laughter.) And just think about the students in this very graduating class - students like the economics and pre-law major from Albania, who also completed the requirements for a philosophy major and dreams of being a public intellectual. So proud of you all back there. We will be there with you every step of the way. And those interactions have been such a critical part of your education at this school. Lucretia Mott, Cesar Chavez, the folks at Stonewall, they were all angry, but those folks were also driven by compassion, by principle, by hope. (Applause.) And finally, most of all, I want to congratulate the Oberlin Class of 2015! You rob yourself of the things that matter most. Thank you. I am confident in your ability to do amazing things. Maybe they dont even want to see you at all, but those people dont know your story. (Applause.). I celebrated military kids with Kermit the Frog. Because heres the thing -- the road ahead is not going to be easy. (Applause.) Well, let me just tell you, it is beyond a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you today. But, graduates, let me tell you, you should never, ever be embarrassed by those struggles. It is beyond a pleasure and an honor for me to be here with all of you today. It was necessary to motivate students to take actions appealing to their emotions. So, yeah, I planted a garden, and hula-hooped on the White House Lawn with kids. Well, the reality is a lot more complicated than that because for too many people in this country, no matter how hard they work, there are structural barriers working against them that just make the road longer and rockier. Her moral leadership on behalf of children in this country has inspired me throughout my career, as well as my husband, the President of the United States. Not here. Today, you can help your younger cousin fill out her college financial aid form so that she could be sitting in those chairs one day. But these folks didnt let the ugliness and the obstacles deter them. That is your story, graduates, and that is the story of your families. Do you know when your primary elections are held? You all, I mean, this has been the most fun I think I've had at a commencement ever. Now, yeah, it was satire, but if Im really being honest, it knocked me back a bit. Its folks all across the country who for too long have had the luxury and privilege of looking away. ), Before I begin, I just want to say that my heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Eric Marks, Jr. And I know you worked hard to make it to this moment, didnt you? (Applause. (Applause.) Former First Lady Michelle Obama gave a commencement address online to the graduating class of 2020. If were only willing to do whats easiest, weve got to make hard choices and sacrifices in our own lives. (Applause. Next, Ive always felt a deep sense of obligation to make the biggest impact possible with this incredible platform. And, graduates, thats what we need from all of you. (Applause.) (Laughter and applause.) Thank you. (Applause.). They built coalitions with folks like them and different from them. Back when my husband first started campaigning for President, folks had all sorts of questions of me: What kind of First Lady would I be? And you have as much responsibility and just as much power to wake up and play your part in our great American story. That is how you will have a meaningful journey on those clamorous highways of life. (Laughter and applause.) Michelle Obama's commencement speeches: a compendium of excerpts. Or when they opened your eyes to an injustice you never knew existed. And now, graduates, its your turn to take up that cause. Get a weekly digest of the weeks most important transcripts in your inbox. ), Now, on this day before Mothers Day, Ive got to give a special shout-out to all the moms here. And so many of those folks, for them, this school was the gateway to actually realizing that opportunity in their lives, founded on the fundamental truth that talent and ambition know no distinctions of race, nationality, wealth, or fame, and dedicated to the ideals that our Founding Fathers put forth more than two centuries ago: That we are all created equal, all entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. City College became a haven for brilliant, motivated students of every background, a place where they didnt have to hide their last names or their accents, or put on any kind of airs because the students at this school were selected based not on pedigree, but on merit, and merit alone. She is such an inspiration to all of the women who are part of the Generation after generation, students here have shown that same grit, that same resilience to soar past obstacles and outrages -- past the threat of countryside lynchings; past the humiliation of Jim Crow; past the turmoil of the Civil Rights era. "Leave behind all the old ways of thinking that divide us: sexism, racial prejudice, status, greed," Obama said . But just like all those folks who came before us, youve got to do something to lay the groundwork for future generations. It can be a useful force, but left on its own it will only corrode and destroy and sow chaos on the inside and out. (Applause.). Read his full commencement address here. I am proud to have this degree -- very proud. No, you dont get to be precious or cautious or cynical. (Applause.) (Applause.) Thank you -- thank you so much for this warm welcome, this tremendous hospitality. You have to persuade them, and you have to compromise with them. If you cant even approach the police without fearing for your life. May 9, 2015. They are not an excuse to lose hope. They answered your late-night phone calls even when you were just calling for money. So what does that mean for your time? And whether you played sports yourself, or sang in the choir, or played in the band, or joined a fraternity or sorority -- after today, all of you will take your spot in the long line of men and women who have come here and distinguished themselves and this university. It is an honor to be here with you to help celebrate this amazing milestone in your lives. Read the latest blog posts from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Check out the most popular infographics and videos, View the photo of the day and other galleries, Tune in to White House events and statements as they happen, See the lineup of artists and performers at the White House, Eisenhower Executive Office Building Tour. Youve got it. 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