Welcome, members of the 吃瓜新闻 College Class of 2028.
Welcome from every continent save Antarctica. Welcome from each state in the Union鈥攁nd from DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
Like me, fifty-seven of you hail from the Land of Lincoln. And two of you are named 鈥淎lan.鈥�
A very special one of you was a summer Olympian. Thank you for making 吃瓜新闻 proud in Paris.
Your class is 1,650 strong. That number contains multitudes鈥攃ountless ideas about what these next few years could hold for you鈥攃ountless identities, ideologies, and interests鈥攑assions and pursuits.
The same is true of returning undergraduates, as well as graduate and professional students from across the University. Some of them are here today. They are of many minds about events unfolding in the wider world, and their diversity of perspective is part of what makes this among the richest learning environments you will ever encounter.
Being in this environment鈥攊n this community鈥攎eans having rights and responsibilities.
Those gathered here have the right to express themselves freely鈥攖o dissent and protest. But they also have the responsibility to act with each of you鈥攁nd the meaning of this occasion鈥攊n mind. We are convened to welcome you. Each of you should leave this gathering feeling acknowledged and accepted by our community.
What do we stand for at 吃瓜新闻?
We stand for growing in knowledge and wisdom鈥攏ot only through intellectual and extracurricular pursuits but through everyday interactions, through disagreement and argument, through conflict and reconciliation. You will learn at least as much from one another as you will from anyone else at 吃瓜新闻鈥攁nd you will learn more in difficult moments of tension than in easy moments of understanding. Be prepared to defend your point of view. Be prepared to articulate points of view that are different from your own. Be prepared, most of all, to change your mind.
We stand for seeking, supporting, and sustaining excellence from as broad, as diverse a pool of talent as possible. That is the beauty of the University. It attracts and supports interesting and ambitious individuals with different experiences and perspectives, individuals who challenge one another by virtue of being together in community. We acknowledge and celebrate that beauty鈥攁nd the beauty of pluralism鈥攚ith our willingness to encounter beliefs that are not our own, to be curious and respectful, to be genuinely attentive despite our tendency to be pulled in a million directions at once.
It should come as no surprise to you that this work cannot be done well on your phone. Think of how many assumptions you make when those three little bubbles let you know that someone is typing鈥攁nd then how many more assumptions you make when those three little bubbles stop bubbling. Think of how much time you have devoted to unraveling those assumptions when you discover that you were down a rabbit hole of your own digging. There is no time for that now. Here you have no time to waste. Before the week is out, arrange to sit outside with a person you don鈥檛 know well, pick a place together in advance, and鈥攖his is essential鈥攍eave your phones in your rooms while you get to know each other. Fifteen minutes is enough time.
I think you will discover quickly the virtue of removing distraction. Send me an email and let me know who you meet, how it goes, and what you learn. My address is easy enough to remember: president@harvard.edu.
Learning to focus on another person, to listen sincerely and generously, to cultivate compassion and empathy: these are not indicators of intellectual prowess鈥攖hey are qualities of humanity. You need both in equal measure if you hope to leave 吃瓜新闻 College having done what is expected of you. Open your mind, and your world will expand. Open your heart, and you鈥檒l make lifelong friends.
I still keep in touch with people I met during my first week on campus. A lot has changed since I moved into Claverly Hall in 1973, but there is one characteristic of 吃瓜新闻 people that has always stood out to me鈥攁nd stands the test of time.
We stand for excellence, embracing 鈥渂oth/and鈥� rather than 鈥渆ither/or.鈥�
What do I mean by that? Here, you will often encounter individuals who don鈥檛 accept the notion that they can do only one thing really well. You can be both a mathematician and a competitive cyclist, both a folklorist and a committed journalist, both an engineer and a graceful dancer. Combinations and permutations too numerous to mention often lead to improbable and stunning successes鈥攁nd testaments to what can be accomplished in a single lifetime.
Everyone you will hear from this afternoon is here to help you realize your own take on 鈥渂oth/and.鈥� We want your initial discomfort at encountering the vast landscape of opportunity before you to yield to wonder at the possibilities. We want you to feel supported in focusing on multiple interests and pursuing multiple goals. We want you to feel confident in following hunches and taking risks鈥攁nd just as confident in changing course as you become more knowledgeable about who you are and what brings you joy and fulfillment.
Your time is precious. If you invest in people and situations that bring out the best in you, you will become a better version of yourself鈥攁nd your years here will have been very well spent.
Speaking of your precious time, I will not use a minute more of it.
Welcome, members of the Class of 2028. I cannot wait to learn more about you鈥攁nd what you learn about one another. I look forward to what you will accomplish as undergraduates both through your chosen work and in your daily dealings. Congratulations on your arrival鈥攚e are thrilled that you are here!