The last commencement speech I want to share today is the one that J.K. Rowling gave at Harvard in the spring of this year (click for full transcript).
I find it a particularly appropriate gift when we consider that the last Harry Potter book was published in 2007 and the last Harry Potter movie came out this year — the graduating dates for the class of 2011, from high school and university, respectively. (Assuming, of course, that the UBC class of 2011 took the traditional four years to graduate and not more…!)
as is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters
Have beautiful weekends, Fall graduates of 2011, and many more lovely days beyond.
fast-paced West Coast Swing • baking popular brownies • friends who stay late at work to walk me home • my kettle • hot showers • spoken word poetry • the Terry Global Speaker Series • thick, long-sleeved sweaters • catching bubbles while doing dishes • creamed cinnamon honey • having my own living space • the sound of the wind at night • Ellen DeGeneres • white hot chocolate at Blenz • a sunny day after a string of rainy ones • clear nights when you can crane your neck and see stars spread across the sky
♥
Continuing on the theme of graduation speeches…
Whether you loved him or hated him, the commencement speech that Steve Jobs gave at Stanford in 2005 is one of the most thoughtful ones out there. This has probably been reposted a billion times (particularly this year), but I wanted to share it again because it’s the one that got me started on listening to these kinds of things (click for full transcript):
Firstly, a happy birthday to one of my very best friends in the world! Taking that summer co-op at YMCA Camps was one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made — or rather, one of the luckiest, because who am I kidding? I didn’t know I was going to meet so many wonderful people and laugh that often. Your acceptance and support has meant so much to me over the past few years and I count you on my list of blessings everyday. I wish you love and happiness and mouthwatering food every day of your life!
Secondly, congratulations to all the November graduates of 2011! Today marks the beginning of the three-day fall convocation. To commemorate, I’ve decided to post one of my favourite graduation speeches for each of these three days. Mostly because I really wanted to repost this particular speech, and also to make a birthday present of it to my friend — I give you Ellen DeGeneres at Tulane in 2009:
follow your passion, stay true to yourself, never follow someone else’s path — unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path, then by all means you should follow that
Finally, an FYI to non-graduating Arts students: the graduation receptions will be in the Buchanan courtyard, so you’ll probably need to factor that in when going to class for the next few days!
After examining the ratty-tatty winter coat I bought out of desperation in first year, I’ve concluded that it no longer protects me from the cold, and would like to replace it with a down coat (or something equally warm). The only problem is, I’ve never bought down anything and I need advice on brands, stores or general tips on selecting a good coat. Help?
One of my favourite aspects of university is how there is always so much more going on than there is time to spare.
(And time — there is so much time in university, even though it doesn’t always feel like it. It’s easy to slip between classes to the Chan Centre for a lecture from Bill McKibben, the first of this year’s Terry Global Speaker Series, or attend part of the Robson Reading Series — or at least think about it. Nine-to-five work days just won’t be the same.)
Where do you find the events that interest you? My English department is quite good at emailing us with relevant information and events; I also enjoy subscribing to newsletters that do the work of finding and promoting the kind of events that I like to go to. Three of my favourites are:
The Post: Aboriginal News and Information for the UBC Community (subscribe by emailing fnsp.assistant@ubc.ca)
Ongoing until February 12, 2012 (MOA) – ひろしま hiroshima by Ishiuchi Miyako: an exhibition featuring the colour photographs of clothing and accessories left behind by the victims of the 1945 atomic bomb at Hiroshima
There’s a Requiem for Peace at the Chan Centre tonight at 8 pm, presented in conjunction with the above exhibition. Student rush tickets are $10 at the door, but unless I can rush through my current pile of academic responsibilities, I shan’t be going anywhere (sad face).
On a completely different note, Jimmy Kimmel issued a challenge to parents to pretend they ate all their children’s Halloween candy and videotape their reactions. Here are the results, and I have to say, that last child is the boss:
