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>> [Applause] President Hanlon, members of the Board of Trustees, honored guests,
and fellow members of the class of 2014.
The last time I was on a stage giving a speech
to a large audience was for the play my junior fall.
I was speaking with a Yiddish accent, playing the part of an elderly rabbi,
and was outfitted in a little boy's suit with a full beard.
Not only did the majority of my friends not recognize me but I was informed afterwards
that apparently my annunciation was so poor that no one actually understood the words coming
out of my mouth; so hopefully things will be better this time around.
I've always found the concept of a student speaker to be interesting.
As your task with representing the voices of 1100 peers and offering profound words of wisdom
when you've been alive for just a couple decades
and can only reflect on your own singular experience.
Considering that I still have not figured out how to make plain pasta
and only recently discovered that the word derelict is not pronounced derelict despite what
the movie Zoolander led me to believe, I'm in no position to give sage advice.
So instead I'm going to use my few minutes to discuss what I have come to appreciate most
about Dartmouth and the main lessons that I have learned along the way.
My time at Dartmouth has been the most enjoyable and memorable years in my life.
I know that we all have our own relationships with the school, but I think we can agree
that Dartmouth is an incredibly unique place.
I tried to make a list of what I've come to appreciate most here
and I'd like to share a few of them with you.
One, the benefit of details, two, the power of passion and, three, the value of authenticity.
First and foremost is the importance of details at Dartmouth.
Often when we think back on an experience or try to explain a concept
to someone else we consider the larger points or overarching picture.
We've all been told in various classes not to get hung up on the details
since the main points are what truly matter.
If we even think about simple daily interactions people frequently focus
on just the key points too.
When we ask someone in passing how his acapella show was or how her lacrosse game went we tend
to expect just a quick summary and reply.
What sets Dartmouth students, professors, and staff apart in my eyes is
that the Dartmouth community is very detail oriented.
Whether it was the slew of follow up questions in a casual conversation about my thesis,
an entire class session spent discussing a seemingly minute sentence
within a 300 page novel, the apple cider donuts my dorm's custodian made for math row residents
at the end of each term, the students who walk through the library with pizza boxes full
of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies or the annual poem e-mailed from Theodor Geisel
with an invitation to participate in a snowball fight at midnight on the green,
I've become very aware of the difference that little details can make.
When we reflect on our Dartmouth experience it is not a general image or memory
that we will have instead we remember the specifics.
Details are what distinguishes Dartmouth, makes us different, and creates a lasting impact.
The second element on my list is that Dartmouth enables and encourages us to be
as random or linear as we see fit.
In my own case I have pursued the random path to an extreme.
At Dartmouth I am a neuroscience major, theater minor,
and am interested in the criminal justice system.
Now I could say that all of these interests are interconnected
since they require complementary skills sets, I could also talk about how they will prepare me
to be the perfect casting choice for a future TV drama that just happens to be
about a neuroscientist in the courtroom, but that would be a stretch at best.
Although, Shanda, if you ever decide to write a show along those lines you know who to call.
In reality though I am a neuroscience major because I am fascinated
by the brain and its impact on behavior.
I am a theater minor because acting challenges me to temporarily see the world
through someone else's eyes, and I'm interested in the criminal justice system because I care
about the equity of rules, but more importantly I pursue these interests
because I find them thought provoking and enjoyable.
And I've learned through college years
that providing further justifications is not necessary, as long as you are enthusiastic
about something people will listen.
Think back to the first lunch you had with a friend after he or she returned
from an off term, remember now excited that person was to tell you about an experience,
internship, or new found career choice, and how contagious his
or her energy was upon describing each detail.
Dartmouth allows us to follow whatever paths we wish and I'm constantly inspired
by the fervor people have for the things they do.
I've learned that it is the passion that people find most compelling not the cohesiveness
of your life story.
The passion that I just described directly relates to my third point namely
that people at Dartmouth are the real deal.
Last year psychologist Amy Cuddy gave a Ted talk about quote, faking it until you become it.
She said that by making little changes in your body language you can cause others
to perceive you in different ways.
So there's apparently the wonder woman pose where by standing up straight
and putting your hands on your hips will make you appear bigger, and that's more assertive,
similarly placing your hands in a V shape above your head before an interview is supposed
to not only make you feel more powerful but make others believe you are more powerful.
When I first heard this I thought it was just a neat concept
and even e-mailed one of my professors about it.
The idea that success could be influenced by subtle alterations
in the way you make others perceive you seems
like a stunningly simple yet revolutionary phenomenon.
However the more I thought about my peers and the people around me I realized
that there is only so much benefit to be gained by faking it until you make it.
The people I have met at Dartmouth are incredibly zealous, genuine,
and comfortable in their own skin, students here often say
that the people are what often make Dartmouth distinctive and special and I completely agree.
For me this stems from the ground in nature that Dartmouth students exude
on a daily basis something that can only exist through authentic passions and interests.
While I said at the beginning of this speech that I would not attempt
to bestow any wisdom I have realized
that the three main reasons I appreciate my Dartmouth experience are inherently pieces
of advice in themselves.
I encourage all of you to take what makes Dartmouth special beyond the confines
of this college on the hill.
Remember the power of details, and strive to bring that energy and attention to the lives
of others, to your future studies, your job, and your personal life.
Continue to pursue your own interests whether those follow a linear pattern or not.
Be passionate about what you do without being concerned
about how your choices will dictate your future.
Stay genuine and if you ever find yourself faking it, stop.
To my fellow classmates, thank you for everything you have taught me.
I cannot wait to see what inspiring things you will do in the future, congratulations.
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