THE UNOFFICIAL 2023 STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEECH

Photo by Carly Mackler

If I spoke at my graduation, I would have said...

Helloooooo Class of 2023! How crazy is this?

More or less 4 years ago you were granted admission to this prestigious university, you arrived on campus with a dream and some suitcases. You navigated your degree, learned from inspiring professors and now you sit at your own commencement. What a huge accomplishment! We should all be so proud.

The last 4 wild years have been filled with miracles and obstacles as well as some unforgettable history-defining moments: a global pandemic, the George Floyd protests, the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the passing of the notorious Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Russia invading Ukraine, and the Insurrection attack on the United States Capital. We have lived through so much and we will continue to live through that much more…

Raise your hand if you never thought this day would come…? Parents, you can raise your hands too. :)

The college experience is redefined by this graduating class: We each have our own personal journey but I am sure somewhere we’ve all experienced some of the same: the value of relationships, love for techno music, life-long friendships, the incredible Miami culture, discovering a passion, and last but not least, a fantastic opportunity to learn about the person inside each one of us.

Photo by Carly Mackler

I do not doubt for a second that over the past few years, each of us has pondered the question of who we want to become and what we aspire to do in this life…

There are moments in our life that can change us forever. We will or have experienced re-defining moments in our life, perhaps during these past years, that are pivotal to becoming who or what we want to become. I would like to think we’ve all been there to some degree.

When I was 19, a sophomore, I was faced with the harsh reality of a life-altering situation. A special boy that came into my life, and a friend to so many here, departed this world through the act of suicide. His name was Charlie and to know Charlie was to love Charlie.

When we lose something we love so deeply, life gives us a moment to pause and decide how we want to move forward. We may, or may not, choose to see life differently. I chose to see life through a new lens. A colorful lens that opened my eyes to the simple beauty of just being alive. The gift of having a beating heart that takes me from moment to moment.

I learned that it’s okay to be a leader within a small pool, to be passionate about something others don’t see as necessarily redeeming or monetarily focused, and to know how perfectly okay it is to carve your own path from the so-called road that was paved for you. I discovered from within me that seeking comfort in the unknown unleashes miracles we never could have dreamt of.

The person we were as freshmen got us to where we are today. The person we are today will lead us into our next chapter. The person we are striving to become will catapult us into our future. Realize the power we ALL have as emerging adults to make our world a better place for everyone to exist together.

We will leave our handprint on this world and future generations — so let’s do it with a little bit more love, a little bit more compassion, and a lot more color.

They say the best years of your life are in college. I hope not! I for one can NOT wait to see what becomes of the graduating class of 2023. In just a moment you’ll be moving your tassel to the other side of your cap, ready to fire up the night celebrating, and beyond thrilled to start your life after college… but right now, in this moment, you’re exactly where you need to be.

So raise your hands proudly if U are ready to conquer the world!

I am incredibly honored to be one of the first to say — Congratulations to the class of 2023 and may all your wildest dreams come true!

GO CANES,

Chelsey Grace

#Classof2023