Last week, over 100 students graduated from Pierson College and over 1,000 Yale students graduated from Yale College as a whole. Each student finally accomplished the ultimate goal: receiving the coveted Yale diploma. They all were smiling, knowing that the last four years, full of tests, tears, problem sets and sleepless nights, were behind them. Yet for most, tears followed the smiles, knowing that the last four years -- full of friends, laughter and memories -- were behind them.
Though I can only attest to the Pierson ceremony, Yale's commencement was a different commencement than any I'd experienced in the past. For the most part, the service was run-of-the-mill: speeches were given, names were called and pictures were taken. But there was one aspect done differently, one thing that I had never seen at a graduation, that made this ceremony more meaningful than even those I had been a part of.
As a graduating senior's name was called, and they marched up to receive their diplomas, a statement was read, written by the walking senior. It could be anything, a joke, a thank you or something else entirely. The only catch: it had to be fewer than 35 words.
Some people wrote jokes: the one I remember most vividly was a game of Simon Says, with a punch line following the false instruction commanding that those seniors who fell for the trick were not to receive their diploma.
Others wrote messages of thanks with jokes peppered in. The one that stood out was one of a close friend. His message consisted of a thank you to those he had known, especially his mother. At the end was a quote from rapper Rick Ross: “Shout to all the pear."
Some seniors chose to write nothing. For them, a name was called, a diploma was exchanged and a picture was taken. Just like that, they were back in their seats. No jokes, no thanks and no words, for better or for worse.
Yet in my opinion, the most meaningful messages were those of pure thanks. They were the messages that made tears come to the eyes of not only their parents but also to the eyes of others. Though I may not have ever spoken a word to some of these people their message touched me, and hearing made me think of what I wanted to say when my name was called.
How will I use my 35 words? Though a joke would be entertaining and memorable, I feel as though it would distract from what I should be saying. Instead, I would hope to, impossibly, put words on paper describing how thankful I am towards those who have played a major role in my life. In three years, I'm sure there will be quite a few.
I would do my best to say thank you to the instructors who taught me along the way, from kindergarten to college, for without them, I would have had no hope of learning what I have and will. They have all taught me about their fields, science, English, math, history or otherwise, and they have taught me about myself and the person I want to be.
I would do my best to say thank you to the friends I was so lucky to make along the way. Whether they were teammates, roommates, classmates or somewhere in between, without them I would never be where I am today. They kept me sane and happy, driven and compassionate. They fostered a place to be heard, to belong and to be loved.
I would do my best to say thank you to my family, who has provided (for the most part) unconditional support and love. Thank you for the pushing, the prodding, the standardized testing and the lecturing. I may not have seemed grateful at the time, but I am now. It might not seem like I listened, but I promise I did in a roundabout way.
Lastly, I would do my best to say thank you to my mom. She raised me, and she did a fantastic job. Thank you, Mom, for pushing me, getting after me, calling me lazy, making me sit down and take the ACT every weekend, for not letting me go out and party. Thank you for loving me the way that you did. I'm trying my best to make it all worthwhile. I love you, Mom.
In my eyes, there is no way I can accurately say thank you to those who let me be a part of their lives and to those who helped make me who I am today. For that, I am forever grateful, much more than 35 words, than 10,000 words for that matter, can say.
