Speakers to Class of 2022: Be ‘Bold’ and ‘Enthusiastic’

Speakers to Class of 2022: Be ‘Bold’ and ‘Enthusiastic’

Thousands of college students around the United States finally came together in person to celebrate the completion of their studies without face coverings, virus tests or pandemic restrictions¹.

Some graduates from the past two years also joined the class of 2022 to receive their degrees in the traditional graduation ceremony, known as commencement. They listened to speeches from other students, university leaders and in many cases, well-known people from the world of music, politics, medicine and sports.

New York University

At the New York University ceremony on May 18, they listened to a speaker who had left high school after 10th grade and never attended college: Taylor Swift.

Swift began her music career at 15 and is now one of the most popular singers in the world. At NYU, she finally received her degree, an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts.

"I'm 90 percent sure the main reason I'm here is because I have a song called 22," she told the graduates gathered in the famous Yankee Stadium. "I, in no way feel qualified² to tell you what to do. You've worked and struggled and sacrificed and studied and dreamed your way here today..."

Swift added that she is not the kind of "doctor" you would want in case of a medical emergency, unless "you needed a person who can name over 50 breeds of cats in one minute."

Antonio Vasquez completed his studies at NYU in 2020 but did not have a traditional graduation ceremony. The university had a special ceremony for the students from 2020 and 2021. Walking among the thousands of people wearing purple, the school color, he said he had a question in mind:

"Well how do you give a commencement speech two years after you've graduated? It's sort of just like: ‘Hope you have a job by now,' right? But they did a really good job. The ceremony itself was well done and really provided some closure for me."

Princeton University

At Princeton University in New Jersey³, graduates listened to a real doctor during the school's graduation week event on May 23 known as Class Day.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the well-known infectious⁴ diseases expert, told the students to fight against "the normalization⁵ of untruths" and unfair access to healthcare. He said that many who died after getting sick from COVID-19 did not have access to medical care, good housing or healthy food. He said many parts of a difficult life in the U.S. are related to "undeniable racism⁶ that (continues) in our society."

Class president Santiago Guiran was the student speaker. Guiran said, "There are two empty seats in the crowd right now." They would have been for his grandparents in Colombia who died after getting sick from COVID-19. He said the sense of friendship and community he felt with his classmates helped him through "the hardest year of my life."

Rollins College

At a university in Florida, Rollins College, the student speaker made news, but did not say a word.

Elizabeth Bonker was the top student in her class. Bonker, however, has autism, which prevents her from speaking. She has not used her voice since she was 15 months old. She used computer software that turns typed words into speech to talk to her classmates.

She said the technology permitted her to complete school and free her mind from "a silent cage." In her speech, she advised her classmates to work to help other people throughout their lives. "We are called to serve," she said, and "to see the worth in every person we serve."

In Georgia

In Atlanta, Georgia, movie maker⁷ and actor Tyler Perry spoke⁸ to graduates at Emory University. Perry told students that even though they are done with school, they should continue to look for "professors" in other parts of their lives. They should seek the advice of experts and not run away from the feeling of "pressure" that comes when working to accomplish their dreams.

"For some, it takes a while to build a dream," Perry said.

Stacey Abrams, who is campaigning for governor of Georgia, spoke at Spelman College. A 1995 graduate of the college, she told students to

"be bold" when thinking about what they want to do in the future. She said she learned "to believe that I am capable of whatever I can imagine" during her time at the school.

Other speakers in May included New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who spoke at Harvard, and U.S. President Joe Biden, who planned to speak at the University of Delaware on May 28. Delaware is Biden's home state.

In addition, sports stars including soccer's Abby Wambach, tennis great Billy Jean King, Bernie Williams from the New York Yankees, NBA player Dwyane Wade⁹ and Olympic runner Allyson Felix visited universities to speak to students.

Words in This Story

graduate – n. a person who has finished the work required to earn a degree or diploma from a school

breed – n. a particular kind of dog, cat, horse, etc.

closure – n. a feeling that something has been completed

access – n. a way of being able to use or get something

classmate – n. a member of the same class or grade in a school

autism – n. a condition that causes people to have difficulty communicating or forming relationships with other people

cage – n. a box made of wire or metal bars in which people keep animals or birds

accomplish – v. to succeed in doing something

bold– adj. not afraid of danger, showing confidence or lack of fear

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

3 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

4 infectious   

adj.传染的，有传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。
• What an infectious laugh she has!她的笑声多么具有感染力啊！

5 normalization   

n.（normalisation）正常化，标准化

参考例句：

• The visit signalled the normalization of relations between the two countries.这次访问显示两国关系已经正常化。
• He was pleased to the normalization of relationship between the police and the people.他很高兴警方和人民之间关系的正常化。

6 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

7 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。