Graduate English address by Lucila Takjerad | Harvard Commencement 2019 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Small gestures and acts of kindness can have a significant impact on people's lives, as demonstrated by the speaker's personal experience.

Key Insights

• 🥹 Personal experiences of hardship and adversity can shape individuals and their gratitude for small acts of kindness.
• 🥺 Illiteracy can be an obstacle to opportunities, and a simple act of assistance can lead to significant changes.
• 😌 The power of small gestures lies in their ability to inspire and create stronger communities.

Transcript

As Harvard graduates you will be asked to go into the world and do the most you can do. I am here to ask you to do the least. [LAUGHING] I grew up in a small village in Algeria. Every Friday my sister and I had our weekly shower at the public bath. We didn't have running water at home. On winter nights we cuddled against the cold because our heat w... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker's life change due to a stranger's act?

The speaker's mother, unable to write her name, was helped by a stranger who wrote it down on a list. This act allowed the family to emigrate to France, offering them new opportunities and a better life.

Q: What does the speaker mean by "the power of little things"?

The speaker believes that small gestures and acts of kindness, even seemingly insignificant ones, can have a profound impact on individuals and communities. These small things can create lasting friendships, inspire people, and strengthen communities.

Q: What examples does the speaker give regarding the power of little things?

The speaker mentions examples such as teachers who instill a love for a subject, kind strangers helping with directions, and the smiles of cafeteria staff. These small acts of kindness can make a significant difference in people's lives.

Q: What is the message the speaker is conveying to the graduates?

The speaker encourages the graduates to not only do the most they can do with their education and legacy but also to consider the least they can do to make the world around them a little better. The speaker believes that even the smallest gestures can have a significant impact.

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares her personal story of growing up in poverty in Algeria and how a simple act of kindness changed her life. She emphasizes the power of small gestures and encourages the audience to consider what is the least they can do to make a positive impact on the world.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker's childhood in Algeria shape her life?

The speaker describes the difficult living conditions she faced in her small village, including the lack of running water, limited heat, and hunger. Additionally, her country's civil war had a profound impact on her and her family. She prays every night for their safety and well-being.

Q: How did the speaker's mother come across an opportunity for refuge from the war?

While at the local market, the speaker's mother noticed a chaotic gathering and learned that the French government was allowing some Algerians to find refuge from the war. She wanted to sign up for this opportunity, but since she was illiterate, she did not know how to write her own name. Feeling dejected, she walked away.

Q: How did the speaker's mother get help to sign up for refuge?

As the speaker's mother walked away feeling hopeless, a man noticed her and ran after her. He asked for her name and wrote it down on the list. This small gesture of kindness gave the speaker's family hope for a better future.

Q: What happened to the speaker's family after getting on the list?

A few months later, the speaker's family was fortunate enough to emigrate to France. While she was sad to leave her homeland and loved ones behind, she recognized the bright opportunities that awaited her. This move allowed her to become the first woman in her family to graduate from college and to eventually study at Harvard.

Q: What power does the speaker attribute to little things?

The speaker believes that even the smallest actions can have a significant impact. She shares examples of small gestures she observes daily at Harvard, such as the smiles of the cafeteria staff and ad-hoc babysitting circles. From these small things, she explains, inspired people, lasting friendships, and stronger communities can grow.

Q: What does the speaker encourage the graduates to do?

The speaker encourages the graduates to do the most they can do and to use their education and legacy to make a difference. However, she also urges them to do the least they can do because sometimes even the smallest acts of kindness can be more than enough to bring about meaningful change.

Q: What kind of small gestures does the speaker suggest?

The speaker offers suggestions such as translating documents for a family at an immigration office or offering a car ride to a pregnant lady. She emphasizes that these small acts of kindness can have a profound impact on people's lives, even if we may not fully realize it.

Q: What is the significance of the phrase "the least you can do"?

The speaker explains that when one person thanks another, the second person often replies, "Oh, it's the least they can do." She believes that sometimes the least we can do can turn out to be the most significant. It shows that even if we may not be able to move mountains, small gestures can make a difference.

Q: How does the speaker express her gratitude toward the man who helped her mother?

The speaker expresses her gratitude to the man who wrote her mother's name on the list by saying, "Thank you and God bless you" in Algerian. She acknowledges that this one act of kindness has had a profound impact on her family's life and is grateful for his intervention.

Q: What does the speaker ask of the audience at the end of her speech?

The speaker asks each member of the audience to consider what is the least they can do to make the world around them a little better. She encourages everyone to reflect on the small gestures they can make to improve the lives of others and create a positive impact.

Takeaways

The speaker's heartfelt story highlights the power of small acts of kindness and the significant impact they can have on the lives of others. She urges the audience to consider what is the least they can do to make a positive difference in the world, emphasizing that even the smallest gestures can bring about true change. By recognizing the potential of small things, we can create a ripple effect of goodness, inspiring others and fostering stronger communities.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker grew up in a small village in Algeria, facing hardships and the impact of civil war.

• Her mother, who was illiterate, was given an opportunity for a better life through a stranger's act of writing her name on a list.

• The speaker emphasizes the power of small things and urges graduates to consider the least they can do to make a positive difference in the world.