And the friendships you forged when the times were good, when the times were bad – and when you realized you just overslept your lecture and needed someone’s notes to catch up with – those are the friendships that will matter for life.

The people you have met here will be some of the strongest friends and closest allies you will ever meet in your lives. It’s been that way for me.

When you leave here, don’t leave them behind. Don’t leave you behind. Stay close and stay strong. Take them with you wherever you go, and, together, connected, go and change the world.

At times it may have seemed like the road ahead was an impossible slog, incredible. But today, I have the distinct honor of telling you: you have made it.

Now that you’re here, I want you do to another thing: Find a way to say “Yes” to things.