Ivy Male Orator Zack Guzman | Harvard Commencement 2014 | Summary and Q&A

Transcript

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Summary

In this speech, Zach Guzman reflects on his time at Harvard and compares it to being in a relationship. He discusses the ups and downs of falling in love with Harvard, the challenges they faced together, and the lasting bond they will have as graduates. He concludes by toasting to the class of 2014 and celebrating their achievements.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Zach Guzman compare his time at Harvard to being in a relationship?

Zach Guzman compares his time at Harvard to being in a relationship by saying that he has been in an ongoing relationship with the institution. He believes that many of his classmates feel the same way, as their love affair with Harvard started before they even met the love of their lives. He suggests that they all fell in love with Harvard's qualities, such as intellect and financial stability.

Q: How did Zach Guzman try to get the attention of the person he was interested in high school?

Zach Guzman tried to get the attention of the person he was interested in high school by telling his friend, Stanford, about his feelings in the hopes of instilling jealousy. However, their conversation turned to topics like startups, golf, and the weather, so Zach decided to end it.

Q: How many people swiped right on Harvard's Tinder profile?

Harvard had 35,023 people swipe right on its Tinder profile. Swiping right means expressing interest in someone on the app. Zach Guzman compares this number to the views on his FarmersOnly profile, a dating app for "good old country folk," which was viewed only once by a farmer named Dean Feaster.

Q: What were some of the quirks of being in a relationship with Harvard?

Some of the quirks of being in a relationship with Harvard included the limited culinary variety, recycled fiberglass toilet paper, and the expectation to not steal books from the library. Zach Guzman mentions how Harvard's idea of culinary variety was different colored sauces on top of fish, which he jokingly calls "swine." He also talks about the security guards checking if they were stealing books as if it was a cute thing.

Q: What happened when rumors of cheating in the relationship surfaced?

When rumors of cheating in the relationship surfaced, Harvard read through all of their emails. Zach Guzman mentions that he and others might have collaborated or cheated with multiple individuals, which led to Harvard investigating the matter. This incident made Zach start questioning why he fell in love with Harvard in the first place.

Q: How does Zach Guzman describe senior year at Harvard?

Zach Guzman describes senior year at Harvard as a time when they realized that time is fleeting. He reflects on fond memories in the library stacks and mentions the challenges they will face after graduation. He also mentions that despite any challenges they might encounter, Harvard will always be with them.

Q: What advice does Zach Guzman's father give about marriage?

Zach Guzman's father, who is Mexican, once told him to marry the right person, and life will always be fun, regardless of the challenges. Zach recalls this advice and believes that even though their challenges might get more serious, they will always have Harvard with them.

Q: What are some of the gifts Zach Guzman mentions receiving from Harvard?

Zach Guzman mentions receiving gifts from Harvard that include a Spanish citation, a degree in economics, and a secondary in neurobiology. He jests that having these qualifications will make him a billionaire, with the condition of downloading Lean In and deleting Fat Joe's "Lean Back" from his iPod. He also mentions that everyone's gifts are unique and valuable.

Q: How does Zach Guzman propose toasts to the class of 2014?

Zach Guzman proposes a toast to the class of 2014 by expressing his belief that they should not compare themselves to the classes that came before or after them. He suggests that they should cherish the fact that they have Harvard in their hearts forever and celebrate their achievements. He concludes by raising a toast to the class of 2014 and congratulating them.

Q: How does Zach Guzman end his speech?

Zach Guzman ends his speech by toasting to the class of 2014 and congratulating them. He mentions a song called "Do the Rockaway" and suggests doing a dance move associated with it. He humorously apologizes for not having champagne for everyone but wishes them all the best in their lives after Harvard.

Takeaways

In this speech, Zach Guzman compares his time at Harvard to being in a relationship. He describes the initial excitement and honeymoon phase, the quirks and challenges they faced together, and the realization that time is fleeting. He reflects on the valuable gifts they have received from Harvard and toasts to the class of 2014, celebrating their achievements. The speech captures the unique and memorable experiences of being a Harvard student and the lasting bond they will have with the institution.