Words of wit, wisdom and such: Commencement season arrives

BALTIMORE — Leadership comes down to five things. Or maybe three. This day is all about you, unless it's really about the family and friends who got you here. Live globally, but embrace the home and the hearth.
It's commencement season, and this month, speakers sent the graduates of Maryland's colleges and universities off to the rest of their lives with these and other necessarily pithy words of wisdom, many of them blessedly brief. As at least two speakers noted, they were the only thing standing between the graduates and their hard-earned diplomas — and maybe an adult beverage.
'We always joke commencement speakers should think of themselves as the body at an Irish wake, you have to be there, but no one expects you to do much,' said Paul Orzulak, a former speechwriter for President Bill Clinton.
The co-founder of the communications firm, West Wing Writers, Orzulak has written more than 100 commencement speeches, a task he enjoys for how it allows the newly graduated in the seats to see themselves in the accomplished person at the podium. But, he said, it's also a challenge in these TED Talk- and social media-pervasive times.
'People narrate their lives so much now,' he said. 'There's a sharper expectation for wit and humor.'
This year's commencement speakers face a unique set of circumstances along with the usual pomp, with colleges targeted by the Trump administration on a range of issues, from cuts to federal funding to allegations of antisemitism linked to the pro-Palestinian protests that flared after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
'If [the University of Maryland] is a guide, going in a more light-hearted direction is one answer to the complicated year colleges and universities have experienced,' Shawn J. Parry-Giles, professor and chair of the department of communication at the University of Maryland, College Park, said in an email.
'I anticipate some will try to avoid politicizing commencement this year,' she said. 'Right now, campuses are more likely hoping that graduation ceremonies can be a respite from such political controversies by placing the focus on providing a joyous space for families and friends to gather to celebrate their graduates.'
UMD had the beloved and ever upbeat Muppet, Kermit the Frog, as its commencement speaker. While other colleges didn't go quite that cuddly a route, most speakers tended to lead with positive messages, even if they referred to the political backdrop of the times.
The exception — as might be expected given the speaker and the setting — was Vice President JD Vance, who strongly criticized previous administrations while promoting the message of the current one at the U.S. Naval Academy graduation in Annapolis.
Steven D. Cohen, a professor of business communications at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, said 'now more than ever' commencement speakers should use their platform to inspire, 'whether you're a frog or a celebrity or a politician.'
READER POLL: Who gave the best commencement speech? Kermit the Frog, Dawn Moore, Wes Moore or JD Vance?
Cohen, who also works as a communication coach and trainer, said the best speakers offer their audience a glimpse of themselves beyond the success that warranted them the commencement gig.
'When you open up, and show a piece of yourself, the failures you've had, the challenges,' he said, 'there's an authenticity there that you don't always see at that level.'
Here are excerpts from some of the commencement speeches given by speakers in Maryland this month.
At the University of Maryland Eastern Shore commencement on May 16, Moore spoke about how what matters is not what you plan to do but what you actually did.
'As young Black men and women, you will often be told your achievement alone will be enough. Being the first Black partner in the history of the firm will be enough… Being the first Black governor will be enough,' he said at the historically Black university. 'But those are all answers to what you will do and actually say very little about what you did do.'
'I don't want the answer to what I did in life being: 'He made history,'' the governor said. 'I want the answer to be: 'He made child poverty history.' I want the answer to be: 'He made food and housing insecurity history.' I want the answer to be: 'He made inequitable pay between men and women history.'
'That is the difference between a mindset of 'I will' and a mindset of 'I did.' And as governor, I've tried to act accordingly.'
Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO of financial services organization TIAA, spoke at Morgan State University in Baltimore on May 17. The third Black woman to head a Fortune 500 company, Brown Duckett noted her mother attended segregated school, as she offered lessons in leadership criteria, including what she said might be the most important: optimism.
'I know the world feels heavy right now, and many of our problems might seem insurmountable. But I assure you, friends, we live in a country that on its worst day still has innovation and renewal in its DNA,' she told attendees.
Befitting her role as head of the trillion-dollar retirement services company, she also offered practical, financial advice: Contribute to your 401(k), especially if your employer matches contributions.
'If you don't remember one word that I have said today, I want all of you to remember the word compounding… A dollar saved today is worth more than a dollar saved tomorrow,' she said. '[Matching contributions,] that's free money. Don't leave coins on the table. Trust me. Your future self will say thank you.'
Jonathan Karl, ABC News White House correspondent, spoke in Chestertown to Washington College graduates on May 18. He described keeping a photo of the young protester facing down a line of tanks in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989 as a reminder of how the media must bear witness to events that governments may try to erase or revise.
'There are people in positions of power and authority who pretend that Jan. 6 was peaceful, that we didn't witness a violent attempt to overturn a presidential election… There are people who would like to cover-up that truth just like the Chinese covered up the truth of Tiananmen Square… It's true that the students of Tiananmen Square tried to stand up for their own freedom and their country's freedom… It's true the Capitol came under attack again on Jan. 6… Don't believe those who tell you there is no real truth. That's a lie.'
Maryland's first lady told graduates and guests at the University of Baltimore commencement on May 21 that she's learned 'big lessons about solving big problems:' Division is a barrier, collaboration is the path to success, and strengthening community elevates the work.
'That work is more important now than ever before. As a society, we have become increasingly divided — and I don't just mean politically — I mean physically. We send an email rather than meeting in person. We send a text rather than talking on the phone. …
'The greatest ideas in the world were developed in person,' she said. 'The greatest businesses in the world were built with people creating together. Community is our lifeblood. It's the only hope we have as a state to secure our future.'
Sonja Santelises, the outgoing CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, looked to the future at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
'What in the world do I do now? Asking that question today feels even more consequential in light of the current state of the world — and this is coming from an urban school superintendent, so you know when I say it's a little turbulent, it's really rocky,' she said. 'Many of us believe this is also a unique time for a different type of leader to emerge… Right now, you are the engine for that type of new leader… True leadership is not a position, but it is a way of moving in the world that seeks to solve problems on behalf of others and motivating others to do the same.
'Don't just lead in your field, lead in life… You actually don't have to give up on the fullness of life. I never wanted to only have one aspect of myself, and you should not settle for that either… Make sure you take care of your relationships. Make sure you take care of these pieces that are you. Love hard, love deeply and make sure [you know]... that if you are going to raise children and have a family, you are doing one of the most important things in our world that we could have done.
Sal Kahn, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, the free online educational platform, spoke at Johns Hopkins University about AI and how rapidly it was changing life compared to previous advances.
'Whether you find this thrilling or terrifying or both, your feelings are valid. But make no mistake, this is the most epic of backdrops to your story. AI and other transformative technologies are neither good nor evil. They amplify human intent. Fire can warm or destroy. A knife can harm or create. Likewise, AI can amplify the negative intent of criminals and autocrats or the positive intent of artists, researchers, policymakers and educators. Whether the singularity leads us to dystopia or utopia is not a coin doss. It depends on what you people with creativity, intellect, integrity and positive intent choose to do with it.'
Kermit 'spoke' at the University of Maryland, College Park. A snippet:
'Life is not a solo act. It's a big, messy, delightful ensemble piece… It's important to stay connected to your loved ones, stay connected to your friends and most important of all, stay close to your dreams, no matter how big, no matter how impossible they seem. The truth is, dreams are how we figure out where we want to go, and life is how we get there.'
At Bowie State University's commencement, U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks harkened back to the bravery and endurace of the activist turned South African president, Nelson Mandela, whose fight for justice kept him going through 27 years in prison.
'Mandela's story endures throughout history because he endured,' she said. 'He never let the conditions of the world around him determine what he believed in.
'Now, you might look around at the current state of the world and wonder if I know what I'm talking about,' Alsobrooks said. ' My response to that is to just live a little longer. Hold on for a little while. The callous and self-centered personalities may seem popular now. But not forever.
'Even in his letters to his adversaries detailing his unwavering demands for justice, Mandela remained dignified,' she said. 'The fire in him burned, but it didn't turn him bitter or spiteful… And that's your charge — to stand on principle, and resist letting the circumstances of the moment push you off your game.'
Krish Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, the refugee resettlement agency, spoke at Goucher College of her own family leaving Sri Lanka to escape civil war and immigrating to the U.S., where her father found work in the city school system.
'You see, back then, American leadership meant offering refuge and opportunity to families like mine. Sadly, that promise is being tested these days — and I often wonder, had my family tried to come today, would we be welcomed?'
Noting Goucher was the first college to require every student to study abroad, she lauded their 'global spirit.'
'You come from 43 states and 47 different nations — a living mosaic of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences. And in an age where some voices try to stoke fear of difference or draw lines between 'us' and 'them,' you offer a powerful counterexample. Your value lies in your curiosity, your empathy, your courage to challenge the status quo, and your willingness to build bridges where others would build walls. And that global perspective has never been more urgently needed.'
'The Trump administration has reversed course, no more undefined missions, no more open-ended conflicts,' Vice President J.D. Vance said at the Naval Academy. 'We're returning to a strategy grounded in realism and protecting our core national interests. Now this doesn't mean that we ignore threats, but it means that we approach them with discipline, and that when we send you to war, we do it with a very specific set of goals in mind… That's how military power should be used, decisively with a clear objective. We ought to be cautious in deciding to throw a punch, but when we throw a punch, we throw a punch hard, and we do it decisively, and that's exactly what we may ask you to do.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Associated Press

18 minutes ago

• Associated Press

EU finds 'indications' Israel is breaching their trade deal with its actions in Gaza

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union says there are ″indications″ that Israel's actions in Gaza are violating human rights obligations in its trade agreement with the EU, according to its findings seen by The Associated Press. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas presented the review to foreign minsters of the 27-member bloc in Brussels on Monday, leading at least one country to openly propose suspending the trade deal. 'There are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Associated Agreement,' according to the review by the EU's diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service. A third of Israel's imports come from the EU, valued at $27 billion annually, while Europe imports less than 1% of its goods from Israel, according to the EU Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security. Suspending trade ties would require a unanimous decision, which is likely impossible to obtain from countries like Austria, Germany and Hungary that tend to back Israel. Other actions — such as ending visa-free travel to Europe for Israelis, sanctioning Israeli settlers in the West Bank or halting academic partnerships — could be pushed if a 'qualified majority' — 15 of the 27 nations representing at least 65% of the population of the EU — agree. Countries like the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain have been vocal in their support for the Palestinians in Gaza as Israel battles Hamas. 'When all the focus is on Iran and the escalation regarding Iran, we should not forget about Gaza,' said Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, who led the charge for the review. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 251 hostages. About 56,000 Palestinians have since been killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and little relatively aid has entered since Israel ended the latest ceasefire in March. Outrage over Israel's actions in Gaza has grown in Europe as images of suffering Palestinians have driven protests in London, Berlin, Brussels, Madrid and Amsterdam. Spain has canceled arms deals with Israel and called for an arms embargo. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno on Monday called for suspending the EU-Israel trade agreement. 'The time for words and declarations is behind. We had enough time,' he told the meeting. 'And at the same time, Palestinians in Gaza have no more time to lose. Every day, babies, women, men are being killed. This is the time for action.' Manuel Albares also called for an embargo on EU countries selling weapons to Israel and for the widening of individual sanctions on anyone undermining the proposed two-state solution. 'Europe must show courage,' he told journalists. ___ Associated Press writers Lorne Cooke in The Hague and Ella Joyner in Brussels contributed to this report.

The Hill

37 minutes ago

• The Hill

Midway through year one, America is souring on Trump's agenda

Last week, President Trump signaled that he would soon make the most consequential foreign policy decision of his presidency, whether or not to order the U.S. military to strike Iran. In no uncertain terms, this decision may ultimately have greater impact than former President Biden's unilateral withdrawal from Afghanistan in summer 2021. Biden's polling numbers never recovered from the chaos that unfolded at that time. Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here With that in mind, it is important and instructive to look at what the polls say about how Americans feel about Trump's presidency thus far, both generally and on key issues such as foreign policy. Roughly six months into his second term, new polling shows that support for Trump has declined across the board and on key issues. Indeed, despite Trump's assertions that his approval ratings hit 'all-time highs,' the numbers tell a different story. Trump began his second term with 51 percent approval versus 44 percent disapproval, but now, those numbers have reversed. Just over half (52 percent) of Americans now disapprove of his job performance, compared to only 40 percent who approve — a net 19-point drop-off, according to the RealClearPolitics polling aggregator. To be sure, as chaos spreads in the Middle East and the question of American involvement hangs in the air, Trump's support on foreign policy is also critical. At the start of Trump's term, Ipsos polling showed Trump with a net plus-2 rating (39 percent to 37 percent), likely due to his promises to end wars and deliver peace through strength. Early on, he seemed to be delivering. He was instrumental in securing a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and oversaw the return of multiple Israeli hostages. According to polling from Data for Progress (Jan. 17-18), a plurality of Americans — 49 percent — credited Trump rather than Biden with the Israel-Hamas cease-fire. For context, Biden ended his presidency with a minus-18 point approval rating for his handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and Trump started his with a plus 12 percent approval rating on the same issue. Half a year later, Trump is practically on par with Biden on the conflict, at minus-17 — a 29-point net swing against him, according to Quinnipiac. Looking specifically at Trump's handling of Iran, 41 percent disapprove, versus 37 percent who approve, according to polling from YouGov. It is not that Americans disagree with Trump's perception of Iran as a threat. In fact, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) say they are worried about the threat Iran poses to U.S. national security, up 13 points from last year, according to polling from Fox News. But Americans' fear of the prospect of another forever war in the Middle East seems to be weighing on the mood. That same Fox poll, conducted last weekend, shows that Trump has lost the public's trust in another key issue area: the economy. Likely due to the chaos and uncertainty unleashed by Trump's tariff policy, a majority (58 percent) of voters disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, while just 40 percent approve, a significant decline for one of Trump's former strengths. In fact, the 18-point margin of discontent is the worst spread Trump has seen in either of his terms. And it does not appear that Trump's cornerstone legislation, the 'big, beautiful bill,' will help. Six in 10 Americans (59 percent) oppose it, and 49 percent think that the bill will 'hurt' their families economically. Just as the economy went from a strength to a vulnerability, Trump's polling has also seen a reversal on immigration, a crucial issue that largely propelled Trump to victory last November. Americans are increasingly concerned about the administration's heavy-handed approach to immigration. This is not to say that Americans dislike Trump's policies generally; a majority (51 percent) approve of Trump's handling of the border, per NBC polling. And exceptionally strong support (87 percent) remains for deporting migrants who commit crimes, according to Economist-YouGov polling. Yet Americans are turned off by the administration's response to protests in Los Angeles specifically, and the belief that the administration is being too cavalier about whom it is deporting. The same poll shows that 57 percent believe the administration is making mistakes in whom it is deporting, and 74 percent say the government needs to make sure there are no mistakes in deportations. Taken together, polling six months into Trump 2.0 shows that many of his former points of pride and political strengths have lost considerable support among all but his most ardent supporters. But it would be a mistake to say the rest of Trump's presidency is doomed. Tariff uncertainty is likely to fade, either because people stop paying attention or due to signed trade deals. In that same vein, it's entirely possible that views on the economy rebound if the 'big, beautiful bill' delivers on Trump's pro-growth agenda. Moreover, tensions in the Middle East will eventually come to a head, with or without American involvement. Fears of a forever war in Iran are misguided, and it's still not at all certain that Trump will commit American forces. Finally, Trump is greatly assisted by the fact that Democrats are still unable to develop a compelling and politically viable alternative. Still reeling from their loss in November, the party continues to struggle to find its way and challenge Trump's excesses. Six months may just be too short a time period to predict the course of the next three and a half years. But it remains useful and informative to gauge the mood of the electorate at this delicate time. Whether or not Trump can reverse this downward trend remains to be seen. It will be extremely compelling to watch. Douglas E. Schoen and Carly Cooperman are pollsters and partners with the public opinion company Schoen Cooperman Research based in New York. They are co-authors of the book, 'America: Unite or Die.'

Politico

an hour ago

• Politico

Capitol agenda: How Johnson may block an Iran rebuke

President Donald Trump already had Republicans scrambling to get their 'big, beautiful bill' to his desk by next week. Now he's got Congress grappling with something even bigger: the aftermath of his airstrikes on Iran. The issue could come to a head with a vote as soon as this week. Sen. Tim Kaine's (D-Va.) resolution requiring congressional approval for military action in Iran ripens on Friday, but is expected to be on the floor sooner with the megabill set to eat up the back half of the week. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing to move up the vote. He's urging his party to support the measure, but Democrats expect to lose the vote of Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.). On the GOP side, keep an eye on Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), who said Sunday on X 'Congress alone' has the power to authorize war. Lawmakers in both chambers are set to receive briefings Tuesday on the situation in Iran; they were on the books before the strikes. In the House, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna's (D-Calif.) war powers resolution, which would block U.S. involvement in Iran, will not ripen until next week. But House GOP leadership is considering getting ahead of that: Speaker Mike Johnson could move this week to kill the effort with language getting rid of the privileged nature of the resolution, according to a person granted anonymity to relay the private discussions. Trump and GOP leaders are moving to unify the rank-and-file behind Trump's decision to strike, even as Trump openly muses about pursuing regime change in Iran. Take note of Trump's renewed attacks on Massie — a source tells POLITICO it's part of an effort to keep members in line. Adding to the chaos for Republicans is Trump's Sunday evening musing about pursuing 'regime change' in Iran if its current leaders can't 'MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN.' 'This is not America First folks,' Massie said in response to Trump's Truth Social post. House Democrats are less unified. Most are questioning the constitutionality of the strike, but the party is split on where to go from there. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) has brought up impeachment. Others, like Rep. Steny Hoyer (Md.), were more supportive of the strike. That could be a problem for Democrats trying to strengthen their opposition. The top Democrats on Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Armed Services are drafting their own resolution in response to the strikes, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the plan. There are likely a handful of pro-Israel Democrats who will vote against any war powers resolution. Even if the bill makes it to a House floor vote there likely won't be enough Republicans. What else we're watching: — Megabill's big week: Republicans will hold a closed-door meeting Monday night after votes for leadership to update members on the GOP megabill and its outstanding issues. Full bill text could land Monday, though it may also slip. While the 'big, beautiful bill' could hit the floor as soon as Wednesday, Thursday is looking more likely. — First Dem oversight vote: House Democrats' steering committee will vote this evening on who should be the party's leader on the Oversight Committee, followed by a full caucus vote Tuesday. California Rep. Robert Garcia, 47, is seen as the favorite in a field split along generational lines. He's running against Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, 44; Kweisi Mfume of Maryland, 76; and Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, 70. — Slashes to GAO funding: House Republican appropriators are proposing to cut funding for the Government Accountability Office by nearly half. It's the latest in a series of flashpoints between the GOP and the watchdog agency, which has been involved in clashes this year over DOGE, regulatory rollbacks and Trump's incursions into the power of the purse. Meredith Lee Hill, Jordain Carney, Nicholas Wu and Katherine Tully-McManus contributed to this report.