Some celebrity advice for Class of ’17
COLLIN BINKLEY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Many famous figures have taken the stage at college graduation ceremonies this month to share their wisdom in an effort to inspire the Class of 2017. A sampling:
“Yes, I was afraid. You’re never not afraid. I was afraid to write this speech, and now I’m realizing how many people are watching me right now, and it’s scary. My fear of failure never approached in magnitude my fear of ‘what if ?’ What if I never tried at all? Enjoy the process of your (career) search without succumbing to the pressure of the result. Trust your gut. Keep throwing darts at the dart board. Don’t listen to the critics, and you will figure it out.” — Will Ferrell, to grads at the University of Southern California, before breaking into his version of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You.
“I didn’t make it this far on my own,” the former bodybuilder, actor and California governor said. “To accept that credit or that mantle would discount every single person who has helped me to get here today ... That’s what this is all about — you’ve got to help others. Don’t just think about yourself.” — Actor/former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, to grads at the University of Houston.
“I made a clear intention to use every show to inform, to encourage, to inspire, to uplift and entertain at the same time. (If you listen to others and), “make it your intention to serve through your life with purpose, you will have a blessed life.” — Oprah Winfrey, to grads at Smith College.
“Adversity makes you stronger. Don’t give in. Don’t back down. And never stop doing what you know is right. Nothing worth doing ever, ever, ever came easy. And the more righteous your right, the more opposition that you will face.” — U.S President Donald Trump, to grads at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut.
“As you leave this beautiful campus and set out into the world, build resilience in yourselves. When tragedy or disappointment strikes, know that deep inside you, you have the ability to get through anything. I promise you do. As the saying goes, we are more vulnerable than we ever thought, but we are stronger than we ever imagined.” — Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, to grads at Virginia Tech.