Graduate English Address | Harvard Commencement 2022

TL;DR

Students at Harvard University share their experiences and reflections on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their college education.

Transcript

A LONG WHILE FROM NOW, LIVING BEINGS NOT YET BORN TODAY WILL WANT TO KNOW WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED? IT COULD BE YOUR FUTURE GRANDDAUGHTER, INTERVIEWING YOU FOR HER MIDDLE SCHOOL RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE CORONAVIRUS. OR PERHAPS YOU'LL BE WRITING A CHAPTER ABOUT IT IN YOUR PRESIDENTIAL MEMOIR. HOW WILL YOU TELL THIS TIME? FOR MANY OF US H... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌚 The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the college experience, forcing students to adapt to remote learning and face new challenges.
• 👻 Stillness and listening emerged as valuable skills during the pandemic, allowing for self-reflection and recognizing the privilege of being alive.
• 🤔 Being vulnerable can lead to visionary thinking and a greater understanding of one's place in the world.
• 👪 Family history can provide inspiration and remind individuals of their responsibility to create a better future.
• 🧑‍🎓 Graduating students have an opportunity to share their knowledge and make a positive impact on society.
• 🥺 Embracing vulnerability can lead to personal growth and becoming a visionary individual.
• 🦮 Divine wisdom, truth, and grace can guide individuals in shaping a better future.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the college experience at Harvard?

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the college experience at Harvard, with students studying mostly through online platforms and facing uncertainties and challenges related to remote learning.

Q: What were some of the lessons learned from being a student during the pandemic?

Being a student during the pandemic taught us the importance of stillness, listening, and recognizing the preciousness of life. It also showed us the vulnerability of humanity and the power of hope in shaping a better future.

Q: How did the pandemic affect the speaker's personal connection to their family history?

The speaker's personal connection to their family history, particularly their great grandmother's story of courage and sacrifice, inspired them to see themselves as part of a lineage that stitched together a future. The pandemic served as a reminder of the importance of mending ourselves and creating a better world for future generations.

Q: What message does the speaker convey to graduating students?

The speaker encourages graduating students to embrace their vulnerability and become visionary individuals who make a positive impact by sharing their knowledge, kindness, and enthusiasm with others.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker reflects on the unique experience of being a Harvard student during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it felt like a reincarnation coming back to campus.

• COVID-19 became a central part of the curriculum, with most studying happening through online platforms like Zoom.

• The speaker highlights the importance of stillness, listening, and recognizing the privilege of being alive, and how vulnerability can lead to visionary thinking.