Remarks from 2025 Convocation – Harvard University President

Hello, members of the Harvard College Class of 2029!

The Harvard College Class of 2029: I promise you gained’t develop bored with listening to that. In June, at Alumni Day, I welcomed a member of the Harvard College Class of 1948 who, at 99 years of age, was as proud as ever of his affiliation with this establishment, grateful for the way it enabled him to pursue his pursuits, obtain his objectives, and revel in a productive, significant, and satisfying life. 

When requested what he recalled most fondly about his time as an undergraduate, he provided an evergreen reply. For him—some eighty years after arriving within the Yard—what mattered most was, and I quote, “going to classes with some wonderful professors and meeting some great students and becoming friends.”

Harvard is a uncommon place of never-ending alternative, in school rooms and labs, on the taking part in fields, on the stage, within the eating halls, museums, and libraries, and in actions happening removed from Harvard Square.  Each pursuit spawns one other, creating an countless chain of possibilities to discover and expertise the world. There is extra so that you can attempt in a single day right here than you might hope to perform in per week or possibly even a month. We selected you since you are distinctive college students, however we additionally selected you since you are able to making fascinating and weird choices, not at all times those that others would make. You embrace the likelihood not solely of doing one factor effectively, but in addition of studying to do many issues effectively on the identical time. Many of you refuse to just accept that you need to at all times select certainly one of two or extra choices. In different phrases, you reject “either/or.” You are the sort of “both/and” people who this establishment has nurtured, empowered, and celebrated all through its lengthy historical past. 

But of all of the alternatives you should have throughout your time right here, the best alternative so that you can develop as a person is sitting subsequent to you—or a few seats down from you—or a number of rows away from you. Each of you is right here to show as you be taught.  You are right here to share your expertise and perspective in order that our group will be one wherein all persons are welcomed, all concepts are given due consideration, and all beliefs are handled with respect. 

What does that appear like in apply? Right now, you are attempting your finest to get snug, to navigate a brand new place and new folks whereas projecting calm self-assurance regardless of nagging doubts about your self and your house right here. You might be tempted to seek out the acquainted, to hunt consolation within the firm that you realize. It will be very troublesome to do in any other case when virtually every part is unfamiliar. 

But we additionally selected you, partly, since you contemplate the difficulties and challenges you encounter to be invites to enhance and in the end to excel. You needed to surmount a plethora of obstacles to be a part of this class. I do know a few of you nervous that you wouldn’t have the ability to make the journey right here—wouldn’t have the ability to grow to be a part of our group. We are so glad to see you. Harvard wouldn’t be Harvard if it didn’t embody inquisitive, formidable college students from throughout the United States and all over the world. 

We belief that you simply—of many factors of origin and plenty of extra kinds of backgrounds—will greet variations with real curiosity and honest curiosity. This, after all, doesn’t imply that you’ll agree with everybody. It doesn’t even imply that you’ll like everybody—not less than at first.

Let me inform you one thing few folks learn about me…

I didn’t do in addition to I had hoped on the AP physics examination. 

When I arrived right here recent from the Land of Lincoln in 1973 —or, as Lincoln may need put it, poor rating and fifty-two years in the past (I see a few of you might be paying consideration!)—I had a robust sense, regardless of being gently suggested in any other case, that I may actually deal with probably the most difficult physics course provided for first-year college students. My advisors knew higher, and I discovered myself in Physics 12 as an alternative.

Staring on the very first drawback set, I rapidly realized that my fallback course was not a fallback in spite of everything. What was this unusual idea of spherical coordinates? Would I must spend hours per week simply to get to the beginning line? Did I even perceive the gravity of the scenario?

Almost instantly after I settled into my seat at our first part assembly and we began to assessment the P-set, certainly one of my classmates blurted out: “When are we going to get some realproblems?”

I cringed. Here—in my part—was “that guy.” Was he a physics genius? How did he have the chutzpah to say such a factor? And why was he in Physics 12? Did I even belong in Physics 12?

I may have answered these questions for myself. There was, nevertheless, one thing about my classmate—about his self-confidence and seeming beneath placement within the class—that intrigued me. He was fascinating, usually humorous, and, as I quickly discovered, behind that bluster was actual perception. So, as an alternative of decreasing him to a caricature, I obtained to know him. He later turned my roommate, and together with my different roommates, challenged me in ways in which I would by no means have challenged myself. He made my undergraduate expertise richer. 

To this present day, I really feel very lucky that I ended up in Physics 12, which was some of the essential programs I’ve taken in my complete educational profession—and never solely as a result of it was the final physics course I took! 

I did be taught what spherical coordinates have been, together with a superb serving to of classical physics, from two sensible professors, the grad scholar main my part, and my classmates. I additionally discovered that not each one who turns into a superb good friend is somebody who makes you snug, not less than initially. “That guy” is nonetheless my good good friend. And he nonetheless makes me proud. He went on to grow to be an achieved theoretical physicist, an professional in synthetic intelligence, and a celebrated innovator. By single-handedly creating the arXiv, he modified how analysis findings in math and the bodily sciences, and in the end all through the life sciences as effectively, are reviewed and disseminated. He is the “both/and” method exemplified—an individual who needed actual issues, discovered them, solved them—after which some!

What I most want for you’re the presents that I obtained from Harvard as a scholar – robust and lasting friendships along with your classmates and your fellow college students, along with your school and your mentors, with the numerous different folks all through the University who make this establishment what it’s. Some of those friendships will kind simply and require little to no tending. Others will demand effort to take maintain. Those are those that may evolve in methods you can’t anticipate— that may result in debate and argument, battle and reconciliation, development and alter. Those are those price pursuing intently as a result of they are going to deepen your understanding and enlarge your spirit. 

Some eighty years from now, you and your mates won’t keep in mind a phrase of what I simply mentioned, however you’ll keep in mind each other—the great and nice folks that you’re—folks price figuring out, supporting, and celebrating. 

Today, we mark far more than simply your starting right here. We mark your belonging right here. You are part of Harvard, and Harvard is part of you—a lifelong connection that may develop as robust as you might be prepared to make it. And lifelong associates who will develop as shut as you might be prepared to allow them to—bringing you pleasure and happiness lengthy after you permit the Yard. 

Congratulations and welcome, members of the Harvard College Class of 2029!