Hey there.
Shankar here.
Last week, our friends at the public radio program one a produced a discussion about rites of passage.
As part of that episode, they asked me to deliver an on air commencement address to graduates finishing their studies this year.
We thought we'd bring you those remarks.
And offer our warm congratulations to all students, parents and caregivers who are marking this moment.
Greetings to the class of 2020.
To the faculty, parents, grandparents and friends joining us today.
Congratulations.
It's a great honor to be with you in this most extraordinary of moments for this most unusual of commencement ceremonies.
Now, extraordinary and unusual may not be the first words that come to mind.
Perhaps the words you would choose are more colorful.
Go ahead.
Shout those words out loud.
It's okay to feel grief that your commencement isn't how you imagined it.
You've worked hard to get to this moment.
You deserve to be wearing your cap and gown, to walk across the stage, shake hands with your deans and professors, and collect your diploma.
Your families deserve to bear witness to this moment, to know that all their years of hard work and sacrifice were worth it.
Giving up this rite of passage is very hard.
And it comes at a time when many others are going through much worse.