20 Chicagoans offer 2020 grads advice
Commencement speeches won’t happen live this year, so we assembled 20 short ones from a diverse group of well-known people
“YOU’LL MAKE MISTAKES LIKE WE ALL DO. BUT IF YOU LISTEN TO THE TRUTH THAT’S INSIDE YOURSELF EVEN WHEN IT’S HARD, EVEN WHEN IT’S INCONVENIENT, PEOPLE WILL NOTICE. THEY’LL GRAVITATE TOWARDS YOU, AND YOU’LL BE PART OF THE SOLUTION RATHER THAN THE PROBLEM.”
“I WISH FOR YOU THE STRENGTH TO TAKE YOUR DREAMS AS FAR AS YOU HAVE IMAGINED.”
CStaff Reporter lasses have been conducted at home. College campuses are empty and silent for now. Elbow bumps have replaced handshakes and hugs.
Caravans of cars filled with loved ones and balloons have become commencement ceremonies.
All of these things are reminders of a year that students, and everyone else, didn’t see coming. 2020 has been stamped by uncertainty and frequent change — ideas that will carve themselves in the collective memory of this year’s graduates.
When they look back on this year, graduates will remember how there we more questions than answers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ll recall the death of George Floyd and the protests and rioting that ensued. They’ll remember a world changing before their eyes.
For high school seniors, they’ll remember rites of passage robbed: proms, spring sports seasons, final concerts and, of course, that walk down the aisle to “Pomp and Circumstance.”
So, as the high school seniors of 2020 consider their next steps, we’re including the names of every high school graduate in Chicago in this special section, along with some sage advice from 20 notable Chicagoans.
We hope you enjoy this Chicago SunTimes “20 for the class of 2020.”
BARACK OBAMA, Former President
Don’t be afraid. America has gone through tough times before: slavery, civil war, famine, disease, the Great Depression and 9/11. And each time, we came out stronger, usually because a new generation — young people like you — learned from past mistakes and figured out how to make things better.
Do what you think is right. Doing what feels good — what’s convenient, what’s easy — that’s how little kids think. Unfortunately a lot of so-called grown-ups, including some with titles and important jobs, still think that way which is why things are so screwed up. I hope that instead you decide to ground yourself in values that last like honesty, hard work, responsibility, fairness, generosity, respect for others. You won’t get it right every time. You’ll make mistakes like we all do. But if you listen to the truth that’s inside yourself even when it’s hard, even when it’s inconvenient, people will notice. They’ll gravitate towards you, and you’ll be part of the solution rather than the problem.
Finally, build a community. No one does big things by themselves.
Right now, when people are scared, it’s easy to be cynical and say, “Let me just look out for myself or my family or people who look or think or pray like me.” But if we’re going to get through these difficult times, if we’re going to create a world where everybody has an opportunity to find a job, afford college, if we’re going to save the environment and defeat future pandemics, then we’re going to have to do it together. So be alive to one another’s struggles, stand up to one another’s rights, leave behind all the old ways of thinking that divide us. Set the world on a different path.
NATALIE MARTINEZ, NBC5 News Reporter
I wish for you the strength to take your dreams as far as you have imagined. This, more than any time you’ll likely know, is the time for stretching your wings. You will use the uncertainty of this time in history to your advantage. This is the time for some new rules to be written, and YOU can be part of that. You may now set the stage for a whole new world. The timing is perfect for you.
You’ve worked hard to get here. You’ve made it through the rigors of college academics, and now you get to apply what you’ve learned to the life you’ll create as a working adult. You will, no doubt, be challenged. You’ll use that energy to proceed with integrity, using the values you were raised with as your basis for decision making. You are now plotting your own life, creating opportunity, and success! You were raised and educated to do so.
I’ve learned that you’re never too old, or perhaps more appropriately, too “experienced” to learn. You can, and will, take advice at all stages of your life. You will learn that being kind doesn’t mean you aren’t also aggressive in securing your goals. You will eventually influence others in how you have chosen to walk this earth. Don’t forget to enjoy the journey!
MAYA-CAMILLE BROUSSARD, Culinary Artist, Entrepreneur and Owner of Justice of the Pies
Mind your business.
This is a widely known phrase that often refers to respecting the privacy of others. I like to use this phrase to describe what I feel is a common practice used by extremely successful individuals: They mind their business. The right mindset is more important than your cumulative skill set, educational pedigree or past personal history.
When you mind your business, you do not worry about others whom you may perceive as competition. What they do is not of any concern to you. When you are minding your business then you do not create space for insecurities and doubt to creep in. Maintaining a sharp focus on your wants and goals is a gentle reminder of your vast capabilities. When you are minding your business then you are cultivating ideas and activating plans. You do not wait for something to happen for you, rather you manifest it for yourself. When you are minding your business, you do not brag, gloat or seek verbal rewards. You hold your cards close, play your hands and watch the results unfold.
The next time someone pats you on your back, congratulates you for graduating and asks what your plans are now — turn, smile and say “I’m minding my business.”
CHERYL BURTON, Anchor, Reporter at ABC7 Chicago
Congratulations and abundant blessings to the class of 2020! What a happy time in your lives. I know that things feel nontraditional as you celebrate this very special moment but there is so much pride. We know that graduation represents the extraordinary potential that lies ahead for all the 2020 graduates.
Normally, at this springtime rite of passage, you would be walking across the stage in your cap and gown, then after getting the diploma that you so skillfully earned, you would switch that tassel to the other side representing this very important milestone. But I’m here to tell you, you have a new stage. It’s called the universe and it’s filled with unlimited possibilities!
You are visionaries. You are resilient, you are impressive and your voice and ideas have been a very powerful force. You have already made your mark on society. Just think of all the devotion and commitment that got you here today. I know that in this group of graduates there will be game changers and history makers whose names will be among the leaders who changed the world and made a difference.
I know in this highly competitive world we live in that building a social-media platform is important, but building great character has long term advantages. So guard your reputation. You only get one, so own it and protect it. Let excellence be the only difference between you and anyone else in the room.
RYAN CHIAVERINI, Host, ABC7’s Windy City LIVE
I am thoroughly impressed with the Class of 2020 and your resiliency. You have had activities and sports seasons cut short, dances canceled and memories forever altered. Yet, when I see “virtual” graduations or class seniors on TV, the gratitude has been remarkable. It’s truly a testament to your strength and the great things that lie ahead for this generation.
While this is a difficult time, remember there will be many more milestones to come. For some, college or landing your first job, promotions, meeting the love of your life or having kids. Right now, this is the biggest achievement of your young life. Over time, you will see there will be countless others. Those memories and experiences will greatly outshine the difficulties you’re experiencing in this moment.
As you enter the next chapter, I would encourage all of you to search for two things. Find something you are good at, and find something you are passionate about. Whatever it is, when talent meets passion you will excel. That doesn’t necessarily mean you were born with that talent. Warren Buffett wasn’t born a great businessman. He took many steps and made many mistakes before he became a success. If you watched The Last Dance, Michael Jordan certainly wasn’t born the greatest basketball player of all time. He was a good basketball player with arguably the greatest drive, work ethic and passion. Of course we can’t all “Be like Mike,” (although I would like it documented I can dunk on a 7-foot rim).
If you saw my first TV appearance back in college, you wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I did both! A LOT. I questioned whether I had any talent at all or should give up. I didn’t realize how much talent needs to be developed. No one is born GREAT. It’s countless hours of commitment, practice and having the passion to not give up. With that being said, I encourage the class of 2020 to start exploring and searching so that you can find something you truly love and be great at it.
“I KNOW THAT IN THIS GROUP OF GRADUATES THERE WILL BE GAME CHANGERS AND HISTORY MAKERS WHOSE NAMES WILL BE AMONG THE LEADERS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD AND MADE A DIFFERENCE.”
RAHM EMANUEL, Former Mayor of Chicago
It is always a privilege to congratulate students and their parents on this great achievement. While today is a milestone that recognizes your success, your greatest learning in life will come from understanding and appreciating your failures and setbacks. I’ve certainly had my share, and they helped prepare me for what was to come.
Right now, our country is facing its own serious setbacks. But rather than narrowing your horizons, this provides an opportunity to expand them. We need you now more than ever to attack our persistent problems — from poverty and homelessness and the lack of health care to the failure of leadership at the highest levels. More than ever before, we need your energy, your idealism and your diverse mix of talents. And in fighting for better lives for all of us, you’ll add meaning to your own.
When announcing his plan to put a man on the moon, President John F. Kennedy said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” Today, we need a “moonshot” to overcome the failures revealed by this pandemic. Only you can determine if that effort succeeds. It is a hugely difficult task, but one that will lead to greatness. We have a lot riding on you!
Congratulations on your graduation and what it promises for you and our country. And congratulations on all the other successes that are waiting for you.
JESUS “CHUY” GARCIA, Congressman, 14th District
Your graduation comes at an extraordinary time in history. A time we never imagined we would have to live through. It feels like our lives have been turned upside down and that can be scary. Change is always scary.
The strange days that have occurred in the last two months alone will provide perspective and guidance for you as you pursue your education, work or your passions. Because it’s through challenges that we can grow and find our true strength.
While you have been denied some of the traditional celebrations, recognitions and rites of passage that come with finishing high school, this year will be engraved in your minds for many different reasons.
The simple joys you were deprived of will help you appreciate things that perhaps you have been taking for granted: the lives of your loved ones, your health, a hug from your friends, the noises in your neighborhood, the ability to just go out and have fun, and the certainty of a regular, uneventful day in a classroom. It may be hard to see this time of quarantine as a source of strength and inspiration. But the truth is that if you take some time to reflect about these past couple of months, you will realize how resilient you are.
Use that newfound strength in whatever interests you pursue next. Whether it’s science, the arts, social justice or community activism, turn this crisis into an opportunity for change and an opportunity for love. Godspeed.
“HIGH SCHOOL IS A COLLECTION OF MEMORIES YOU’LL CARRY WITH YOU FOREVER AND NOTHING CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU.”
JANICE JACKSON, CEO, Chicago Public Schools
To the Class of 2020, I know this isn’t the graduation you imagined, and it’s OK to feel disappointed. Every year I look forward to sharing in the excitement of families and students who worked so hard to earn their diploma. My heart aches because you don’t get the celebration you have earned and deserve. But, as a proud CPS graduate, I’m here to tell you that your high school experience is so much more than walking across a stage. It’s that winning touchdown, it’s laughing in the hallways with your friends, it’s that teacher who believed in you and will impact your life forever. High school is a collection of memories you’ll carry with you forever and nothing can take that away from you.
Years from now, when you think back on this time in your lives, I believe you’ll remember what you learned rather than what you lost. I believe you’ll feel proud of how resilient you were during a time of crisis. And I believe you’ll be proud of all we accomplished by coming together in the days, weeks, and months ahead to strengthen our communities, our city and our country.
The kind of perseverance and resilience you’ve shown these past few months will take you a long way in life, whatever path you choose. My advice as you begin this next chapter is to expand your comfort zone, be open to new experiences and new people. Surround yourselves with friends and mentors who will challenge you, support you, and inspire you to pursue your dreams. I’m amazed at all you’ve accomplished - especially during this trying time. Among you, there are artists, scientists, and future leaders who will change the world for the better and make Chicago proud. Remember, this is your starting line, and there is no limit to what lies ahead.
JESSE JACKSON SR., Founder, Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Life is not a straight line. It most always has headwinds and crosswinds but seldom tailwinds. You will have many achievements but must continue to have and set goals, and you must be able to make adjustments.
There will be some failures because the odds are against you. And sometimes you do not do your best. You will have both failure and success. You will have to treat them the same way.
You will have to learn to live together in a world where there are no more foreigners. The message of humanity is the same. You must follow the data in the road map. We need each other. We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or die as fools. Keep Hope Alive!
TONI PRECKWINKLE, President, Cook County Board
The first thing graduates should do is express appreciation to everyone who has helped them along the way — family members, teachers, friends — who helped them get to this point. No one accomplishes something like this entirely on their own.
Hopefully graduates have a plan — a plan for the summer, for post-secondary education. It’s virtually impossible to support yourself these days without post-secondary education of some kind. But whatever you decide to do, whether it’s school or employment, be a person that can be relied on. Show up. Be a person who folks can count on when you need something difficult done. Take on the hard stuff.
And finally, don’t give up. Be persistent.
STACY DAVIS GATES, Vice president, Chicago Teachers Union
Trayvon Martin. Rekia Boyd. Eric Garner. Mike Brown. Laquan McDonald. Tamir Rice. Walter Scott. Freddie Gray. Sandra Bland. Philando Castile. Botham Jean. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. George Floyd. Our graduates have lived through all of these moments. They’ve survived these moments, and they will be the ones to lead us out of them. Because their elders aren’t getting it right.
Youth will change the narrative — that’s what our youth are doing today. Black children, brown children and immigrant children should not be born into a world where their trajectory is predetermined by health care disparities, unemployment, violence and under-resourced schools. There has to be revolutionary leadership to bring that to an end. The Class of 2020 are those revolutionary leaders. It’s a tremendous burden, but you are at a precipice that few other graduating seniors have ever experienced in our country. At a time of little faith in leaders and institutions, I have faith in our graduates.
My advice? Be clear in your purpose. Be human. Be humane. Be empathetic. Care for yourself. Care for your families. Care for your communities. This is a celebratory time, even if celebration isn’t in our hearts right now. But our students help us heal and recover in ways we adults can’t even imagine. We’ve seen their power in classrooms and school communities. Now, we must trust them to use that power to change our world, and build a better future for us all. We’re here for you in that effort, and we stand with you now and always.
THE REV. MICHAEL PFLEGER, Senior pastor, St. Sabina Catholic Church
The pandemic has changed everything and everyone, especially our 2020 graduates, seeking to snatch you from this moment of celebration and leave you feeling empty, lost, and, yes, angry. But I charge you, don’t let it rob you of your sense of accomplishment and your moment of celebration. You earned it, and you deserve it.
You have worked too hard, struggled too often, and accomplished too much to allow this momentary challenge, as difficult as it is, to consume you and ignore the four years of work, determination, tenacity, and excellence that brings you to this graduation.
Class of 2020, we celebrate you and give you a standing ovation from our shelter in place! This world needs the inspiration you are, the questions you ask, the challenges you bring and the dreams that lie within you. Stand up tall and proud, bold and confident. You are our hope and our future.
“BE THE ARCHITECTS OF THE NEW WORLD WHERE UNITY, JUSTICE, EQUALITY, AND EQUITY RULE, WHERE VIOLENCE CEASES AND EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD CAN ACHIEVE THEIR DESTINY AND PURPOSE.”
Now go from here and create the new society we need. Refuse to let us come out of this pandemic and go back to a normal that was unjust and unequal. Be the architects of the new world where unity, justice, equality, and equity rule, where violence ceases and every man, woman and child can achieve their destiny and purpose.
Congratulations Class of 2020, I can’t wait to see the world you shape.
OPRAH WINFREY, Television Personality, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
I know you may not feel like it, but you are indeed the chosen class for such a time as this — the class of 2020. You’re also a united class, the pandemic class that has the entire world striving to graduate with you. Of course, this is not the graduation ceremony you envisioned. You’ve been dreaming about that walk across the stage, your family and friends cheering you on — whoop! whoop! — the caps flung joyously in the air. But even though there may not be pomp because of our circumstances, never has a graduating class been called to step into the future with more purpose, vision, passion, energy and hope.
You know, the word “graduate” comes from the Latin gradus, meaning “a step toward something,” and in the early 15th century, “graduation” was a term used in alchemy to mean a tempering or refining. Every one of us is now being called to graduate, to step toward something, even though we don’t know what. Every one of us is likewise now being called to temper the parts of ourselves that must fall away, to refine who we are, how we define success and what is genuinely meaningful. And you, the real graduates on this day, you will lead us.
I wish I could tell you I know the path forward. I don’t. There is so much uncertainty. In truth, there always has been. What I do know is that the same guts and imagination that got you to this moment — all those things are the very things that are going to sustain you through whatever is coming. It’s vital that you learn, and we all learn, to be at peace with the discomfort of stepping into the unknown. It’s really OK to not have all the answers. The answers will come for sure, if you can accept not knowing long enough to get still and stay still long enough for new thoughts to take root in your more quiet, deeper, truer self. The noise of the world drowns out the sound of you. You have to get still to listen.
JESSE SHARKEY, President, Chicago Teachers Union
The Class of 2020 is about to venture out into a world that adults have left in pretty bad shape. If life were a high school class, grownups haven’t exactly been acing it! But graduates, I have a lot of hope for your ability to make it better, and here’s why.
You have grown up in a very multiracial world, where music, culture, sports, politics and schools have exposed you to a lot of diversity. It doesn’t mean that your generation is going to automatically solve the problem of racism just like that. Getting rid of racial exploitation and white supremacy is going to take some work, but you have a better start than many older people had.
You live in a city with movements that fight for justice. You also have support from those who love you, and being loved — even imperfectly — is the basic building block to becoming an adult with a sense of self-respect and positive purpose. As you grow into that sense of self-respect, demand more from the world.
I have so much hope and confidence in you, and what your generation will accomplish. Last weekend, you marched with Black Lives Matter signs and demanded justice for George Floyd. You’ve lifted your voices about gun violence and climate change. Your voices are not just valuable — they’re critical. You matter, you mean the world to us, and I look forward to working with you to build a better world.
CHE “RHYMEFEST” SMITH, Musician and Philanthropist
The high schoolers in 2020 are going to be the pioneers of a world no one has seen before. So although it may sound like a Herculean
task, it’s also a great opportunity to create the world you always wanted to see.
Do not be pushed around by the old world. Don’t be broken in your ideas and in your imagination. Use art, use creativity. Know that there’s no difference between poetry and mathematics. There’s no difference between science and visual art. Everything connects. Be the example. Sometimes, the examples that we’ve had were only things that we stemmed from, not what we should emulate.
My advice is to expand your options. You are free. You can do anything in this world that you want to do. Don’t be limited by the perception of what you’re told your options are.
JONATHAN TOEWS, Captain, Chicago Blackhawks
On behalf of the Chicago Blackhawks, I would like to extend our congratulations to the Chicagoland class of 2020!
While this certainly isn’t how you wanted to end your senior year, my advice to you is actually something you are already putting into practice through the uncertainty of COVID-19 — and that is to roll with the punches.
Remember, one game at a time. Every situation is what you make of it, and it’s important to focus on the positives, find any silver lining and block out the noise. Your mindset around the task at hand is always going to be the most important thing to your
“BUT EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY NOT BE POMP BECAUSE OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, NEVER HAS A GRADUATING CLASS BEEN CALLED TO STEP INTO THE FUTURE WITH MORE PURPOSE, VISION, PASSION, ENERGY AND HOPE.”
future goals, and you can always lean on your “teammates” — whoever your personal support system may be — to get you through both the good and the tough times.
Wishing you all the best as you enter this next phase of your lives, and I know you will represent our city well as you go on to do amazing things.
J.B. PRITZKER, Governor
Though this might not have been exactly how you imagined crossing the high school finish line, please know that your accomplishments and the years of effort that brought you to this point have not been diminished and instead they’ve been strengthened, and the sacrifices you have made in just the last few months have not gone unnoticed. I want to thank you for doing your tremendous part to keep our communities safe by social distancing — both over the last few months and even on your big day.
This is a very strange moment that you’re living in — but I can tell you that you’re going to have so much to teach the rest of us, and the generations who come after you, about what you learned in these critical months of your youth. Because you’re seeing what it looks like when the world comes together, and what it looks like to put your faith in science, and research, and the teams of people here in Illinois and beyond who are work
ing on treatments and vaccines to save lives.
You’re seeing what it looks like when our health care workforce steps up — our doctors, our physicians assistants, our nurses, our nurse practitioners, yes, but also our hospital social workers, EMTs, pharmacists, ER technicians, registration staffers, sanitation services, and food service workers. I can tell you that they didn’t join this profession looking to fight a pandemic. They wanted to help people, to live a life of service. And they’re still doing it, every day. You’re seeing communities lift up their neighbors and share in new ways — delivering groceries to elderly residents, expanding mutual aid networks, streaming weddings over video call.
So I want you to know that even though this time of crisis has been challenging for all of you in so many unexpected ways, you are truly special. You have demonstrated resiliency, resolve, and perseverance in the face of incredible adversity. You’ve proven that you’re prepared to take on the world, no matter what it throws at you. That’s what this nation and this state need — leaders like you who know how to overcome challenges and find a path to success. That’s who you are — that’s who the class of 2020 is.
As your governor, I want you to know how deeply proud I am of you — and on behalf of all the people of Illinois, congratulations!
PAULINA ROE, 103.5 KISS-FM On-Air Personality and founder of Get Yo Mind Right
If you are graduating from high school, you are entering one of the most significant points in your life. First and foremost, congratulations on your achievement! Although your graduation occurred during an uncertain and strange time — the future is so incredibly bright for you. From one Chicago high school graduate to another, here is some advice for the wonderful seniors of 2020.
Opportunity comes to those who create it. If you work hard and give all of yourself into your passion, just know your opportunity will come. And, yes, the money and rewards will follow. But remember — dreams don’t work unless you do!
Always be mindful of the company you keep and be thoughtful of how you treat those around you. Don’t burn your bridges, it really is a small world. You will encounter all types of people in this world who think like you — and you will encounter many who don’t. Take this as a learning experience and never change who you truly are to “fit in” for the moment.
Do not compare your success to the next person’s. Social media has tricked us into comparing our lives, instead of appreciating our own blessings. You are right on time and where you’re supposed to be. Now is your time to show the world what you’ve got! Good luck and congrats, grads.
VAL WARNER, Host, ABC7’s Windy City LIVE
To the high school graduating class of 2020, I salute and honor you for reaching this major milestone in your young lives. Your hard work, dedication and determination have paved the way for you to enter your next chapter. Whether that be college, trade school, or the work force, I implore you to use that same tenacious drive moving forward. You will encounter roadblocks along the way as you have this year with COVID-19.
Almost at the high school finish line, life as you knew it came to a screeching halt. No prom. No senior day. No in-person graduation where you could strut your stuff across a stage to the cheers and thunderous applause of your family, friends, and even complete strangers. All of the accolades and pomp and circumstance you dreamed of four years ago when entering high school as freshmen were snatched away thanks to this pandemic. But what did you do? You persevered through the pain of having your senior year put on pause. You pushed through with e-learning despite some days of not wanting to get out of bed or feeling too distant from your teachers and classmates. Your discipline while studying isolated at home proves that you are built for anything that comes your way. Graduating high school during the pandemic of 2020 is an exclusive story you will share with your children.
So what will you do now with this doggedness you had to dig deep to find in order to finish high school under these difficult circumstances? I know. You will soar even higher. Nothing stands in your way. You are destined for greatness. Always remember where you come from and how hard you worked to get here. Build on that. Be grateful for the successes and failures you will encounter along the way. Yes, I said grateful for the failures. I am reminded of the words of famed actor Will Smith who said failure helps you recognize the areas in which you need to evolve. He goes on to say, “Fail early, fail often, fail forward.” Embrace failure and be smart with your new-found freedom. For those of you going off to college where mom and dad will no longer tell you to get up for class or do your homework, you will find that this freedom will come with many temptations. Be smart with your decisions and your time. Remember the core values and lessons you have been taught your whole life and as Spike Lee says, DO THE RIGHT THING. And should you fail at that, get up, dust yourself off, and keep going. Never give up on your hopes and dreams. They belong to you and no one can ever take them away from you. Cultivate them. Bring them to light and then come home to your great city of Chicago and be that beacon of hope and change our city so desperately needs.
We are counting on you, the resilient class of 2020. The good news is I know you will deliver because you already have. So puff your chest out, hold your head high, and know that you are a class like no other and that this great city you call home, will be here rooting and cheering you on along the way — especially me, Auntie Val!!
“AS YOUR GOVERNOR, I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW DEEPLY PROUD I AM OF YOU — AND ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS, CONGRATULATIONS!”
DAMON WILLIAMS, Comedian
As you enter the next chapter in life seek to find your passion. Search for things that bring you joy. If you’re able to identify the activity you’re most passionate about, pursue it with all your efforts. This is the path to a more rewarding and successful career and life overall. It is great to be well educated and knowledgeable, so continue to learn and grow.
Education is a great component to success but not always the only route. Be flexible. The career you think you want now may not be your destiny. Follow your passion!