Undergraduate Speaker Auguste Roc | Harvard Commencement 2017

TL;DR

Love and courage triumph over hate and destruction, as witnessed through personal experiences during the 9/11 attacks and Boston Marathon bombing.

Transcript

senior English address when we fall in one piece candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Arts August Jennings Rock [Applause] when I was six years old I learned suddenly that the world is a scary place on a beautiful crisp blue sky morning on my first day of first grade a cinematic fireball roared out of the World Trade Center and fixed me to the l... Read More

Key Insights

• 🙈 Personal experiences during traumatic events can shape one's perspective on the world, as seen through the speaker's memories of 9/11 and the Boston Marathon bombing.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Acts of kindness and compassion in times of fear and darkness can have a profound impact on individuals, such as the firefighter who held the speaker's hand during 9/11.
• 😨 Harvard upperclassmen showed resilience and care by creating alternative ways to welcome newly admitted students during the lockdown caused by the Boston Marathon bombing.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the 9/11 attacks affect the speaker as a six-year-old?

The 9/11 attacks were a traumatic experience for the speaker, as they witnessed the collapse of their neighborhood, but their strongest memory remains of a firefighter who selflessly held their hand, teaching them strength and resilience.

Q: How did Harvard upperclassmen respond to the Boston Marathon bombing?

Despite the cancellation of the visit event for newly admitted students due to the bombing, Harvard upperclassmen quickly organized a virtual visit to connect with the students, showing care and resilience in the face of disruption.

Q: What is the speaker's intention for themselves and others on graduation day?

The speaker urges their fellow graduates to set an intention that honors the responsibility that comes with a Harvard degree, emphasizing the importance of choosing love, courage, compassion, and hope in the face of fear, discrimination, and despair.

Q: What does the speaker believe is the ultimate story of these events?

The speaker suggests that the ultimate story is not just the acts of terror committed but also the acts of bravery and kindness from bystanders and the Harvard community, emphasizing the power of compassion and resilience.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker recounts their experience as a six-year-old during the 9/11 attacks, emphasizing the kindness and strength shown by a firefighter who held their hand.

• They reflect on the Boston Marathon bombing, highlighting how Harvard upperclassmen rallied to create a virtual visit for newly admitted students during the lockdown.

• Graduation day becomes an opportunity for the speaker to encourage choosing love and courage as the ultimate defense against fear, discrimination, and despair.