Remarks as prepared by Johns Hopkins University senior class president Amy Sun for the universitywide commencement ceremony on May 18, 2016.
Image caption: Amy Sun, president of JHU's Class of 2016
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Welcome to the students, faculty, parents, grandparents, and all of those who are currently checking their phones to see when this is going to be over.
Four years ago, when we first arrived on campus, we were nervous about finding our classes and finding our niche, yet excited about the opportunities we would have here—preparing to become engineers, lawyers, writers, astronauts, and doctors. Today, we proudly celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2016 of the Johns Hopkins University!
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the guidance of our mentors. To our teachers, thank you for sharing your expertise with us and for your wisdom. And thank you for your tolerance and understanding of our naiveté and inexperience when we first began our college journey. To our advisors, thank you for your support, encouragement, and patience. To our friends, thank you for sticking with us every step of the way, whether that was sneaking Insomnia Cookies to us at 3 a.m. in the library the day before an exam, or cheering for us at our concerts and dance performances.
Most importantly, we thank our parents who, more than anyone, helped us arrive at this long-awaited day. You have given and sacrificed so much. Primarily money. Let's give them a big thank you!
Our time at Hopkins has been a truly unforgettable experience. From the thrill of celebrating a great lacrosse victory to stuffing our faces with fried Oreos at Spring Fair, these moments have brought us to today.
And now we are faced with the million-dollar question: "What are you going to do with your life?" And I know that many of you are just like me: planners. We like to know when, where, with whom, why, and what is going to happen long in advance.
But one of the most important things I've learned in college is to expect the unexpected. I started at Hopkins set on becoming a mechanical engineer. Then, when opportunity presented itself, I applied for the biomedical engineering program, and to my delight and surprise, was accepted. Now that I've struggled four long years, what have I chosen to go into after college? Consulting. Freshman me never would have guessed.
If you don't yet have an answer to the question, "What are you going to do with your life?"—or even if you do have a plan—I'd like to share something with you. Things change, and plans rarely work out the way we expect.
However, I am learning that there is a beauty in waiting. A beauty in realizing that there are more possibilities for you and for me than our myopic minds can foresee. Please rest in the knowledge that next year will be an adventure, and take time to enjoy it. You never know what is just around the corner for you.
No matter how the career chips fall, remember that Johns Hopkins has helped us develop the academic credentials and skills that will make us the leaders of tomorrow. You are smart, loving, determined, persistent, passionate, and inspiring.
I am truly honored to be amongst you. Congratulations to the Class of 2016!
Posted in University News, Student Life
Tagged commencement 2016
