Listen up graduates, this one’s for you! In case you haven’t heard, schools out...FOREVER. As you’re gearing up for the next chapter, we wanted to pass along some sage words of wisdom from leaders and influencers who we love and admire. While the real world may seem daunting, we’ve rounded up our top 10 favorite commencement speeches to help put your nerves at ease. //
Sheryl Sandberg // UC Berkeley
"These easy days ahead of you will be easy. It is the hard days, the times that challenge you to your very core, that will determine who you are."
Ellen DeGeneres // Tulane University
"..some of the most devastating things that happen to you will teach you the most."
Barack Obama // Barnard College
"Persevere. Nothing worthwhile is easy. No one of achievement has avoided failure — sometimes catastrophic failures. But they keep at it. They learn from mistakes. They don’t quit.”
Oprah Winfrey // University of Southern California
"Become so skilled, so vigilant, so flat-out fantastic at what you do that your talent cannot be dismissed."
Mindy Kaling // Dartmouth College
"Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something, but especially not yourself."
Steve Jobs // Stanford University
"Remembering that you're going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose."
J.K. Rowling // Harvard University
"It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you’ve failed by default."
Stephen Colbert // Northwestern University
"No more winning. Instead, try to love others and serve others and hopefully find those who love and serve you in return."
Will Ferrell // University of Southern California
"Enjoy the process of your search without succumbing to the pressure of the result."
Amy Poehler // Harvard University
"Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life."
