>> Mr. President, members of the board of trustees,
honored guests, faculty, family, friends, and fellow students,
I stand before you today humbled
by the profound contributions many
of you have made in my life.
Mom and dad, I want to thank you in particular
for all the loving support that you've provided over the years.
But today I stand before you as a humbled and proud member
of the graduating class of 2012.
A few days ago a friend of mine came up to me
and told me he was afraid of graduating.
I think a lot of us are in that boat.
He told me he's afraid of change.
So I thought I'd spend a few minutes
up here talking about change.
Change, turmoil, chaos, and maybe even a little bit of luck.
I ask that you think back about all of the incredible changes
that have occurred during our four short years at Dartmouth.
Consider what's happened in the world, in our markets,
in our community, and in our lives.
When we entered Dartmouth,
we were in the greatest financial crisis
since the Great Depression.
We were in two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan,
we had just elected our first African American president,
and Justin Bieber was quickly becoming a teenage sensation.
While here in Hanover, US Airways 1549 landed
on the Hudson River, US unemployment reached almost 10%,
President Obama signed a $787 billion stimulus package.
Dr. Jim Young Kim became the 17th president
of Dartmouth college, Dr. Jim Young Kim became the president
of the world bank, and word
on the street is he's already looking for the next big job.
[ Applause ]
>> But that's not all.
There was a massive earthquake in Haiti, the BP oil spill,
33 Chilean miners were trapped after 68 days underground,
the iPad was release lead, the Arab sprig spread from Tunisia
to countries such as Egypt, Libya, and Syria.
Kate Middleton married prince William,
who I must say also went by Wills.
There's still hope.
US troops shot and killed Osama Bin Laden, Japan was hit
by a massive tsunami that caused a nuclear meltdown,
the debt crisis hit Europe,
and Carlee Ray Jipsin released the hit single Call Me Maybe.
But here we are today, we're a generation that has been defined
by uncertainty and change, but we haven't let
that uncertainty limit us.
Class of 2012, among us, we have graduating seniors
that have written and published scholarly articles,
started businesses and non-profits, done a research
and led organizations both on and off campus.
We have graduating seniors that have taken leadership roles
in their fraternities and sororities,
been varsity athletes, accomplished artists
and musicians, and incredible friends and family members.
Today we leave Dartmouth as the best class ever.
But ready to face an uncertain world ahead.
I believe, however, there will be three elements
that will remain changed in this ever uncertain world.
One, turmoil and change itself.
As I said before, we will be a generation
that will be defined by change.
Even today we are facing big changes in our lives,
moving to New York City, Boston, or even Columbus, Ohio --
hi Loni -- is a big change.
But we shouldn't fear change.
Change just means something new.
A new adventure, new excitement, a new opportunity to learn.
So the first constant in this ever-changing world is
change itself.
The second element is the reward that goes to those
who constantly invest in themselves; constantly learn
and constantly try new things.
Even though you're graduating from Dartmouth,
your education is really only beginning.
Learn a foreign language, learn to write computer code,
go to a graduate school, read a book,
or take on additional responsibility at work.
Luck is simply what happens when preparation means opportunities.
So the first two constant elements
in this ever-charging world are, one, the dividends paid to those
that constantly invest in themselves,
and two, change in itself.
The final constant
in an ever-tumultuous world will be the relationships
that you cultivated with your friends and family around you.
Cherish your Dartmouth friendships,
for they will last a lifetime.
You will always have a home here at Dartmouth, to come home to.
So class of 2012, I encourage you to be conscious
of the moment, take time to reflect and understand
that where you are today is different
from where you were four years ago, and different
from where you will be four years from now.
It represents an opportunity to grow,
mature, and try new things.
So class of 2012 , we are ready for the uncertainty in the world
that awaits us, we are ready for the challenges,
and we are ready for the excitement.
Thanks, and congratulations.
[ Applause ]