(uplifting music)
(Andrew Zheng) Good morning friends, family, loved ones,
President Price, wink, and my fellow class of 2021. How are you doing today ready to graduate?
(Matty Pahren) The really big life
milestone for me I remember coming to my cousin's college graduation,
kind of hard to believe that it's time for me to do the same thing, now.
(Zara Porter) It feels kind of
unbelievable. I always dreamed of coming to Duke as a child.
(Tommy Hessel) it's just a really exciting point in
everybody's life, to think about what are my next steps? What can I do with this Duke education?
(Bryant Lewis) Before COVID happens,
I saw the strength of the class of 2021, just in all the great work they've done and the success
that they've brought to Duke University. But then when COVID came around, we all were forced
to just really persevere and get through that hard time. And I think we did it fantastically.
(Dominic Tanzillo) The word resiliency is forefront
in these times where we've had to adapt, we've had to change, and we've had to learn what it means to
have community in times where we can't be physically there together all the time.
(Matty Pahren) Last year maybe wasn't what we all were expecting.
But I think it caused us to really come together in a way, unlike other Duke classes.
(Bryant Lewis)
I think the biggest thing I miss about Duke is just the people.
(Olivia Coletta) Duke’s people are by far Duke's greatest strength.
(Bryant Lewis) You'll always see
someone you know whether it be a classmate or friend or someone you even met o-week.
(Dominic Tanzillo) The professors are forefront for me.
Some of these people are just some of the most caring and
amazing people. They will encourage you and they're just ready to support.
(Tommy Hessel) We really have this sense of shared spirit, the shared camaraderie
that transcends the entire community, and it's just super exciting to be there.
(Bryn Lawson) Hearing and feeling the energy on
Duke’s campus and getting to see friends and just run into them and have these casual conversations.
(Emine Arcasoy) I'm gonna miss that
the most is being surrounded by the people I love and care about.
(Molly Mendoza) I feel grateful for the future. Nothing
is guaranteed. And I'm really excited to see what is next. And I want to appreciate every moment.
(Bryant Lewis) I'm excited,
I think nothing could really be Duke in terms of complexity or how hard it was,
I think Duke really teaches you to be able to get through anything.
(Andrew Zheng) I'm really excited
to kind of just discover who I am outside of a school institution,
(Tommy Hessel) Definitely a bit scared, we
are going into some pretty uncharted waters here from our graduation. But altogether, knowing that
the tools that I've been equipped from Duke with and just the people that I've made connections
with here, I'm very optimistic about how we can go out and make positive change throughout the world.
(Emine Arcasoy) I really want to thank my family who have supported me, during the hardest times
at Duke, but also celebrated with me and all the accomplishments over the past four years.
(Dryden Quigley) My dad went to
Duke and just having him be able to relive a little bit of his experience
through me has been really great. And so, I definitely want to thank him and my mom.
(Dominic Tanzillo) My mom and my brother,
both two people who have been tremendous supports throughout this whole process.
(Matty Pahren) I really appreciate the support of my parents.
They really encouraged me throughout school to even be able to get to a place like this.
(Lucas Gonzalez) I'd also love to thank the professors. I've been
blessed with incredible professors at this school that truly took my education to the next level.
(Andrew Zheng) The person I'd have to think most was
my freshman year focus professor, Liliana Paredes
because she was kind of the first professor that really took a chance on me.
(Arjun Lakhanpal) I think all of us really
couldn’t have done this without each other, being on campus together really pushing each other.
I think really, just thank you to those who I know, but also those who
I guess I don't know who really kind of pushed so many activities forward,
really organized all these great activities at Duke that we’ve all had a chance to be a part of.
(Frank Thomas) But I really want to thank those here at Duke,
especially those within the university that have supported me in a way that I would never be
supported otherwise. And to all of my friends who've stuck by me for four years,
and who I hope to stick by my side in the many years to come.
(Olivia Coletta) Congratulations,
Duke class of 2021. I am so proud of us.
(Dryden Quigley) I'm so excited to
see what the future has in store for us.
(Bryant Lewis) Class of 2021, congratulations.
I'm so happy for us. I wish you nothing but success and happiness from here on out.
(Arjun Lakhanpal) Congratulations.
(Lucas Gonzalez) Congratulations.
(Zara Porter) Congrats.
(Dominic Tanzillo) Congratulations.
(Matty Pahren) Congratulations.
(Bryn Lawson) Congrats.
(Frank Thomas) Congratulations.
(Tommy Hessel) Congratulations.
(Emine Arcasoy, Molly Mendoza) Congratulations, Class of 2006. We made it!
(Andrew Zheng) We’re all in this
together. Once we know, I don't know what the words are, but congratulations class of 2021.
We did it. It's finally over. We're free. But anyway, Bye. Have fun.
(uplifting music)