Thank you, Dartmouth! I imagine that everyone dreams of doing something meaningful with their lives. Before I came to Dartmouth, I was blessed with family and friends who have always believed in me and my dreams. It was their support that inspired me to apply to Dartmouth College in the first place. Coming from a small public school in N.H., I thought my chances of being admitted were slim, and I was shocked to receive Dean Furstenberg's letter. Before Dartmouth, I was sure that I wanted to do something meaningful with my life, but it was not until after I became a part of this community that I began to realize just how many opportunities are available to me for making a difference in the world.
Many of my friends at Dartmouth are surprised when I tell them that I was voted "Most Shy" by my middle school classmates. In high school, I was far from outspoken, and my teachers were always asking me to speak loader. By the time I was ready to begin College, I was no more comfortable in my own shoes, and I distinctly remember feeling incredibly nervous about becoming acquainted with my DOC trippees.
Slowly but surely, Dartmouth began to work its spell over me, instilling the courage, conviction, and optimism I needed to set higher goals and dream bigger. Five years ago, I could have never guessed that I would have run for Student Body President and I certainly never imagined that I would be preparing to teach 7th grade English in the Bronx next year. I do not mean to imply that Dartmouth changed me, but simply that Dartmouth provided me with a safe space in which to change and grow.
Dartmouth offers such a place to many students with each passing year. Despite its flaws, this College is truly a gift to all of its pupils, especially for those if us who are unaware of our own capabilities. Whether you loved your time at Dartmouth or hated every moment of the last four years (or, more likely, if you fall somewhere in between these extremes), I hope you will graduate recognizing that Dartmouth has changed lives of your fellow '05s. I am one of those students, and I will always be grateful for the privilege of attending Dartmouth.
When I look out on the Green and see the chairs being set up for our Commencement Day, I am almost as nervous as I was on my DOC trip. While I do feel ready to move on with my life and I could not be more excited about my plans for the future, I feel anxious because I wonder if I will ever find a place as special and dear to me as Dartmouth College.
Additionally, I think we should all be a bit nervous on graduation day simply because of the shared burden we carry. Over the past four years, we have been permitted to live in a place where small miracles happen regularly. Perhaps a student travels across the world to help build homes, receives a grant to publish her research, works to raise political participation in the Upper Valley, makes the winning goal to secure the Ivy Championship, or simply signs up to take a course that frightens them. These opportunities are truly unique, and many of our peers will have no such chances. As we leave Dartmouth, I believe that it is our responsibility to guarantee the same kinds of opportunities to others.
So, as we leave Hanover tomorrow, our mission must be to think in broader terms. If each of us makes as much difference in the world as our class has made on the Dartmouth campus, then we will all have led the meaningful lives we had hoped.
I wish you all the best of luck and the happiest of endings!
