2018 Stanford Commencement Address by Sterling K. Brown

0:04 Stanford University PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING STERLING K. BROWN. >> STERLING K. BROWN: CLASS OF 2018, NERD NATION HOW WE DOING THIS MORNING?

0:35 >> YES. I'M A LITTLE HYPED. I'M A LITTLE HYPED. BRING IT DOWN. BRING IT DOWN. WOOOO. OKAY. PRESIDENT TESSIER-LAVIGNE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THOSE BEAUTIFUL WORDS WITH US THIS MORNING. AND THANK YOU FOR SUCH A GRACIOUS WELCOME. IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU COULD TRY TO UNDER PROMISE AND OVER DELIVER, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE DON'T WANT THESE PEOPLE GETTING TOO HIGH ON THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

1:06 THEN WHEN I COME OFF SOUNDING HALF WAY DECENT, EVERYBODY WILL BE LIKE, “OH MY GOODNESS WASN'T THAT REFRESHING? THAT YOUNG MAN WAS SO ARTICULATE. WHAT'S THE NAME OF HIS SHOW AGAIN? I'M GOING TO WATCH IT JUST FOR HIM.” >> BEFORE I GET INTO MY SPEECH, I NEED TO MAKE ONE STATEMENT AND THEN POSE ONE QUESTION. STATEMENT: I WILL FROM TIME TO TIME BE SLIPPING INTO A DIALECT KNOWN AS AAVE. FOR THE UNINITIATED THAT IS AFRICAN AMERICAN VERNACULAR ENGLISH.

1:39 OK? IN SOME SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY THEY REFER TO THIS DIALECT AS EBONICS. BUT HERE AT LELAND STANFORD JR. UNIVERSITY WHERE IT WAS TAUGHT TO ME BY PROFESSOR JOHN R RICKFORD, WE CALL IT AAVE. I UTILIZE THIS DIALECT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING I'M FAMILIAR WITH AND COMFORTABLE WITH AND SINCE I'M HOME TALKING TO ALL MY FUTURE FELLOW ALUMNI OF THE FARM, I MIGHT AS WELL MAKE MYSELF AS FAMILIAR AND COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE.

2:13 I ALSO USE IT PERIODICALLY BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING A POINT HOME, I FIND THE KINGS TO BE SOMEWHAT LACKING. THUS HOW I APPREHEND MY PERSPECTIVE. I WANTED TO MAKE THIS DISCLAIMER UPFRONT JUST IN CASE ANYONE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT RANDALL. RANDALL HE DOES NOT HAVE A MOHAWK. HE WAS STILL RAISED BY JACK AND BECKY WITH A GOOD HAIR AND AND HE DOES NOT UTILIZE AAVE AS MUCH AS I DO. BUT HE MIGHT. JUST HOLD ON AND WAIT AND SEE.

2:41 NOW, MY QUESTION: HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER BEEN ASKED TO DO SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMES YOU'LL BE GREAT AT, BUT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO? YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED OF LOOKING FOOLISH AND LOATHE THE FACT YOU EVER AGREED TO DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE? THAT FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, PEOPLE CONSIDER YOU TO BE THIS DEEP THINKER WITH PROFOUND INSIGHTS TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD WHILE ALL ALONG WHERE YOU FEEL ABOUT AS DEEP AS THE SHALLOW END OF A KIDDIE POOL?

3:14 IF SO, WELCOME TO THE 127TH COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AS DELIVERED TO YOU BY STERLING K.BROWN. HEY MTL, THAT IS THE WAY YOU UNDER PROMISE. SEE WHAT I'M DOING HERE? >> REAL TALK. I MUST HAVE STARTED THIS SPEECH ABOUT FIFTY-ELEVEN TIMES. EVERY TIME I STARTED IT, IT WOULD BE A’ALL RIGHT.

3:47 BUT I WANTED IT TO BE GREAT. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL SOMETHING SPECIAL. BECAUSE I'VE SAT WHERE YOU'VE SAT. I'VE IMAGINED WHAT THE NEXT PHASE OF MY LIFE WOULD LOOK LIKE. I'VE CELEBRATED WITH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I’VE STRUGGLED THROUGH THE QUARTER SYSTEM FOR FOUR YEARS AND MADE IT THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE. GRANTED, AS A DRAMA MAJOR. BUT STILL, THE STRUGGLE WAS REAL. >> YOU YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST.

4:18 AND YOU DESERVE THE BEST FROM ME. AND I HAVE HAD A REALLY HARD TIME FINDING IT. THE BIGGEST HURDLE I'VE HAD TO OVERCOME IN PREPARING THIS SPEECH IS ONE OF MY OWN CREATION. IT WAS AN UNCONSCIOUS STORY I HAD ABOUT MYSELF WHICH HAS BEEN FORCED TO THE SURFACE THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR EXERCISE IN PUBLIC SPEAKING. IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS. BROWN, I SAY TO MYSELF, YOU ARE NOT A WRITER. YOU ONLY GOT A 600 ON YOUR BEST VERBAL SAT SCORE.

4:51 #SOSTANFORD #NEVERWOULDHAVEADMITTEDTHAT20YEARSAGO YOU HAVEN’T WRITTEN A SPEECH OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE SINCE YOUR JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL WHEN YOU RAN FOR STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT- I DID WIN BY THE WAY- WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST PULL 15 MINUTES OUT OF YOUR BACKSIDE WHEN YOU HAVEN'T PUT PEN TO PAPER IN FOR A PUBLIC ADDRESS IN 25 YEARS? NOW, I CAN ALREADY HEAR YOUR BEAUTIFUL JOHN FORBES NASH-LIKE MINDS WORKING PREPARING REBUTTAL. ALLOW ME TO GIVE THEM VOICE.

5:22 MR. BROWN, BECAUSE YOU ARE RESPECTFUL, YOU WON ALL THESE AWARDS OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS FOR THEOSE ROLES YOU'VE PLAYED AND WE'VE HEARD YOUR SPEECHES. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? TO THAT I SAY, YES, I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO WIN A FEW THINGS AND I'VE GIVEN A FEW SPEECHES BUT I DIDN'T WRITE THEM DOWN. BULLET POINTS. I MAKE A FEW BULLET POINTS AND THEN SHOOT FROM THE HIP. THAT'S PRETTY EASY FOR ME, THAT’S COMFORTABLE. BUT THIS, THIS IS NEW. AND ANY TIME YOU DO SOMETHING NEW, USUALLY, INEVITABLY, THERE'S FEAR.

6:00 ESPECIALLY, IF YOU'VE EVER SUFFERED FROM PERFECTIONISM. I WOULDN'T IMAGINE ANY OF YOU NERDS WHO HAVE BUSTED YOUR HUMP TO GET INTO THE DOPEST UNIVERSITY IN THE COUNTRY WOULD KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. HERE'S THE THING I HAD TO REMIND MYSELF ABOUT FEAR. AS A HUMAN BEING, IT IS MY GOAL IN LIFE TO BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF POSSIBLE. WHICH IS ULTIMATELY, I BELIEVE, DIVINE.

6:31 IF ALL OF MY LIFE IS COMFORTABLE AND CONVENIENT, I ROB MYSELF OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, TO STRETCH, TO EXPAND. WHEN I FEEL FEAR, AS UNCOMFORTABLE IT MAY BE, I KNOW I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE. WHETHER YOU ARE 22 OR 42, NEVER ALLOW FEAR TO KEEP YOU FROM EXPANDING YOUR DEFINITION OF SELF. MTL -- Y'ALL CALL HIM MTL. I THINK THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

7:02 SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENTS, BY INVITING ME TO BE YOUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER TODAY, YOU HAVE PROVIDED ME WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN WHERE POSSIBILITIES ARE LIMITLESS. AND WHILE I MAY HAVE SILENTLY CURSED YOU A FEW TIMES WHILE I WAS WRITING THIS THING, PLEASE ALLOW ME NOW TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ME THE LANDSCAPE FOR MY OWN INDIVIDUAL GROWTH. NAMASTE. NOW, BACK TO THE HELL OF ACTUALLY WRITING THIS THING. SINCE WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT I WAS WORKING UNDER THE RATHER DESTRUCTIVE SELF-INFLICTED NARRATIVE OF I AM NOT A WRITER, I TURN TO THE WRITINGS OF OTHERS.

7:39 AND IT WAS VERY HELPFUL. FRESHMAN YEAR AS PART OF WHAT WAS KNOWN AS CIV, MY FOCUS WAS PHILOSOPHY AND IT WAS A PERSONAL REVELATION. PARTICULARLY AS A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS RAISED CHRISTIAN IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, I WAS QUITE STUNNED TO FIND THAT NO ONE RELIGIOUS GROUP NOR INDIVIDUALS WHO SUBSCRIBE TO NO PARTICULAR FAITH AT ALL HAVE A MONOPOLY ON WISDOM. THERE WAS A WEALTH OF PHILOSOPHERS AND PHILOSOPHIES TO CONSULT, BESIDES THE GOSPELS AND PROVERBS.

8:10 THE LATTER STILL HOLD A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY LIFE BUT SO TOO NOW DO THE FORMER. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE IN WHICH I LIVE MY LIFE TODAY, THE DIVINE IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. SO I CONSULTED MY BIG THREE. BIG THREE. BIG THREE. SOCRATES, PLATO AND LAO TZU. QUITE A FEW PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM THESE SAGES. ALLOW ME TO READ A FEW THAT HELPED ME GET THE BALL ROLLING. SOCRATES.

8:40 “AN UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING.” #STAYWOKE. DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT? OR DO YOU TREAT YOUR THOUGHTS AS IF THEY WERE REAL AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THEM? NO ANSWERS HERE, JUST QUESTIONS. I THINK SOCRATES WOULD PREFER IT THAT WAY. “BEWARE THE BARRENNESS OF A BUSY LIFE.” THERE WILL BE ENORMOUS PULL WHEN YOU ENTER INTO THE REAL WORLD TO BE BUSY.

9:14 TO ALWAYS DOING AND ALWAYS HUSTLING AND BUSTLING. HAVE YOU CONTEMPLATED THE IMPORTANCE OF STILLNESS? IS BEING BUSY THE SAME THING AS BEING PRODUCTIVE? “I AM NOT AN ATHENIAN OR A GREEK BUT CITIZEN OF THE WORLD.” I LIKE THIS ONE. THIS IS NATIONALISM VERSUS GLOBALISM. THIS IS VERY BLACK PANTHER. WHO ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR?

9:45 ARE YOU YOUR BROTHERS' AND SISTERS' KEEPER OR ARE YOU ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN PEOPLE OR FOR YOUR OWN PATH, FOR THAT MATTER. AND LASTLY, AND THIS IS ONE THAT LANDED REALLY ON ME. “I KNOW NOTHING EXCEPT THE FACT OF MY IGNORANCE.” CAN I GET AN AMEN? LOOK, DO Y'ALL KNOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE YOU'VE HAD DELIVER THIS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS? I'M TALKING ABOUT MULTIPLE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, MULTIPLE MAYORS OF MAJOR METROPOLISES.

10:17 METROPOLISES, THAT’S THE WAY YOU SAY THAT WORD, I LOOKED UP THE, BUT IT SOUNDS WEIRD METROPOLISES. TECH TITANS WHO ONLY NEED ONE NAME. GATES. JOBS. AND OF COURSE, THE QUEEN, OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT WE CALL HER IN THE COMMUNITY. FOR THE UNINITIATED, I'M TALKING ABOUT OPRAH. >> NOW, FROM WHERE I'M SITTING, THESE PEOPLE KNOW SOMETHING. THEY MAKE LAWS RUN CITIES, MAKE BANK, MOVE THE CULTURE.

10:48 WHILE ME AND SOCRATES ON THE OTHER HAND ARE SWIMMING IN A SEA OF IGNORANCE AS VAST AS THE PACIFIC ITSELF. JUST DON'T KNOW NOTHING, YOU KNOW? PEOPLE, I'M THE DUDE WHO TAKES THE WORDS OF ANOTHER DUDE AND MAKES IT SEEM LIKE HE CAME UP WITH THEM HIMSELF. THAT'S WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GOT ME UP HERE TALKING TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, MAN. THIS IS CRAZY.

11:19 >> BUT THEN I TAKE A BREATH AND I REMEMBER MY SPEECH DOESN'T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE ANYBODY ELSE'S. MY SPEECH IS MY SPEECH. AND THEY CAN'T DO WHAT I CAN DO AND THEY I CAN'T DO WHAT I THEY CAN DO. SO WHY AM I EVEN TRYING? AND IT'S NOT FOR THEM. IT'S NOT EVEN FOR ME. IT'S FOR YOU. IT IS A REFLECTION OF ME AND HOPEFULLY IT IS AUTHENTIC TO WHO I AM AS A PERSON.

11:49 BUT WHEN I PLACE THE FOCUS ON WHERE IT TRULY BELONGS, ON THIS GORGEOUS OPPORTUNITY TO BE OF SERVICE TO THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY, TO THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD, I STOP WORRYING ABOUT HOW I COMPARE TO OTHERS AND I JUST GIVE YOU THE BEST THAT I GOT. LET ME MOVE ON TO PLATO. FIRST QUOTE, THIS ONE INSPIRED ME THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF MY SPEECH. “THE BEGINNING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORK.."

12:19 JUST WRITE SOMETHING, BROWN. IT DON’T GOTTA BE PERFECT, IT DON’T GOTTA BE PRETTY, YOU CAN TELL THEM YOU WRITING AAVE AND MAKE IT SEEM LIKE A CONSCIOUS CHOICE LATER. THEY WON'T KNOW NOTHING. BUT WRITE SOMETHING. ONE MORE FROM PLATO. >> “WE CAN EASILY FORGIVE A CHILD WHO IS AFRAID OF THE DARK. THE REAL TRAGEDY OF LIFE IS WHEN MEN ARE AFRAID OF THE LIGHT.” NOW THIS ONE WAS BIG.

12:55 IT WAS BIG BECAUSE IT REMINDED ME OF ANOTHER QUOTE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE. THE QUOTE IS BY MARIANNE WILLIAMSON AND IT GOES LIKE THIS: “OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS NOT THAT WE ARE INADEQUATE. OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS THAT WE ARE POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE. IT IS OUR LIGHT, NOT OUR DARKNESS, THAT FRIGHTENS US MOST. WE ASK OURSELVES, WHO AM I TO BE BRILLIANT, GORGEOUS, TALENTED AND FAMOUS?

13:27 ACTUALLY, WHO ARE YOU NOT TO BE? YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. YOU'RE PLAYING SMALL DOES NOT SERVE THE WORLD. THERE IS NOTHING ENLIGHTENED ABOUT SHRINKING SO THAT PEOPLE WON’T FEEL INSECURE AROUND YOU. WE WERE BORN TO MAKE MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN US, AND IT’S NOT JUST IN SOME OF US, IT’S IN ALL OF US. AND WHEN WE LET OUR OWN LIGHT SHINE, WE UNCONSCIOUSLY GIVE OTHER PEOPLE PERMISSION TO DO THE SAME.

14:00 AS WE ARE LIBERATED FROM OUR OWN FEAR, OUR PRESENCE AUTOMATICALLY LIBERATES OTHERS.” GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2018, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE. IT IS YOUR BIRTH RIGHT, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, BECAUSE WE GROW TOGETHER. I REMEMBER WORKING ON A COMMEDIA PIECE IN GRAD SCHOOL AND MY TEACHER WAS ASKING ME TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS INCREDIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE, AS ARE FREQUENTLY THE REQUESTS MADE BY FACULTY IN AN ACTING CONSERVATORY PROGRAM.

14:38 LET ME REMIND YOU THAT I LOATHE LOOKING FOOLISH. AND HE KNEW THAT. AND HE DID NOT ALLOW ME TO RECEDE INTO MY FEAR. HE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO KEEP FROM MOVING FORWARD. HE TOLD ME “IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU, STERLING. WE'RE ALL LEARNING FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE.” HAVE YOU EVER WALKED INTO A ROOM AND FELT THE ENERGY OF THAT ROOM CHANGE? BETTER YET, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A ROOM AND HAD SOMEONE WALK INTO THE SPACE AND YOU FELT IT SHIFT FOR THE BETTER?

15:13 OR FOR THE WORSE? MY MAMA ALWAYS TOLD ME WHEN YOU VISIT SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE, LEAVE THINGS BETTER THAN THE WAY YOU FOUND THEM, THAT WAY YOU'LL ALWAYS BE ASKED BACK. YOU WANT TO BE THAT PERSON THAT CHANGES THE ROOM FOR THE BETTER. YOU WANT TO BE THAT PERSON THAT KEEPS GETTING ASKED BACK. YOU DO THAT BY TURNING ON YOUR LIGHT. SOMETIMES WHEN I'M IN THE GYM OR ON THE TREADMILL, GETTING IN MY LITTLE CARDIO, FREQUENTLY I SAY IN MY HEAD I SAY THIS STUFF IS FOR THE BIRDS.

15:45 I WANT TO GO HOME. I'M DONE. AND THEN I LOOK UP AND I'LL SEE SOMEONE LETTING THEIR LIGHT SHINE AND I AM REMINDED OF THE LUMINESCENCE THAT IS ME. SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT'S MY COMPETITIVE NATURE COMING OUT. SURE THAT'S ONE WAY OF LOOKING AT IT. BUT I CHOOSE TO SEE IT AS MY INSPIRED NATURE COMING OUT. I AM INSPIRED BY THE EXCELLENCE OF OTHERS. I STRIVE FOR PERSONAL EXCELLENCE.

16:17 LOOK, THERE'S NO SENSE IN DOING SOMETHING IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TRY TO DO YOUR BEST. BUT ALSO, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT INSPIRES EXCELLENCE IN OTHERS. I GOT TO PAY IT FORWARD. THE INSPIRATION CAN'T STOP WITH ME. YOU GUYS, MY FRIENDS FROM STANFORD ARE SOME BAD MEN. I GOT TWO LAWYERS, ONE WHO IS TRANSITIONING TO BEING A STAND-UP COMIC BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT'S WHERE HIS LIGHT SHINES BRIGHTEST. A JUDGE, A UROLOGIST.

16:50 GREAT AT DINNER PARTIES BY THE WAY, EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A UROLOGIST, THEY GO THROUGH SOME CRAZY STUFF. AND A DOCTORAL STUDENT IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH A SUB-DISCPLINE IN PERFORMANCE STUDIES. RARELY HAVING AN EXPLICIT DISCUSSION ABOUT IT, WE ARE EXCEPTIONALLY PROUD OF EACH OTHER. BY CHALLENGING OURSELVES, WE CHALLENGE EACH OTHER TO BE THE BEST POSSIBLE VERSIONS OF OURSELVES. I SURROUND MYSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO LET THEIR LIGHT SHINE. YO, NOT TO MENTION THE HOTTEST CHICK IN THE GAME, ROCKING MY CHAIN, FELLOW GRADUATE OF THE CLASS OF 98, DOUBLE MAJOR IN ENGLISH AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES, PROUD MEMBER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED, OMICRON CHI CHAPTER, WRITER, SINGER, ACTOR, PRODUCER AND PROUD MOTHER OF TWO FUTURE STANFORD GRADUATES TO BOOT, RYAN MICHELLE BATHÉ.

17:44 YOU ARE THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT IN MY LIFE. THANK YOU FOR SHINING WITH YOUR BOY. >> ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. OH I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT THE THIRD OF A BIG THREE. LAO TZU. IT’S LIKE LEAVING RANDALL AT THE HOSPITAL, MY BAD. THE AUTHOR OF THE TAO TE CHING’S WISDOM IS SO PURE AND SIMPLE, IT REQUIRES VERY LITTLE EXPLICATION. “WHEN YOU ARE CONTENT TO BE SIMPLY YOURSELF AND DON'T COMPARE OR COMPETE, EVERYBODY WILL RESPECT YOU.” RIGHT?

18:23 THAT'S GOOD. “WHEN I LET GO OF WHAT I AM, I BECOME WHAT I MIGHT BE.” BRIEFLY, WHEN I FIRST GOT TO STANFORD, I THOUGHT I HAD IT ALL FIGURED OUT. MAJOR IN ECON, GO INTO BUSINESS OR FINANCE, MAKE BANK. AND TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY. IT MADE SENSE. IT WAS THE PRUDENT THING TO DO. AND WHILE I HAD ALWAYS LOVED ACTING, IT JUST WASN'T PRACTICAL.

18:54 IN MY MIND, A CAREER IN ACTING WAS RESERVED FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE WEALTHY WHO DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MAKING A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIVELIHOOD OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, OF THEIR FAMILIES. BUT THE CALL OF THE STAGE NEVER WAINED. THE DESIRE TO ILLUMINATE THE HUMAN CONDITION WAS ALWAYS THE THING THAT GAVE MY LIFE THE GREATEST SENSE OF PURPOSE. SEE WHAT I DID THERE, MTL? I TIED IT BACK INTO THE THING. I HAD TO LET GO OF WHO I WAS IN ORDER TO BECOME WHO I AM.

19:29 AND IF YOU WISH FOR YOUR LIGHT TO SHINE CONTINUOUSLY, IT IS A PROCESS THAT YOU MUST GO THROUGH OVER AND OVER AGAIN. LASTLY… “A GOOD TRAVELLER HAS NO FIXED PLANS, AND IS NOT INTENT ON ARRIVING.” NOW, THIS IS FOR MY HOMIES SIMILAR TO MYSELF WHO BATTLE/HAVE BATTLED WITH PERFECTIONISM. GOALS ARE GREAT. THEY GIVE US A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, THEY HELP ESTABLISH A ROAD MAP OF THE GENERAL TRAJECTORY OF OUR LIVES AND HOPEFULLY THAT TRAJECTORY IS ONWARD AND UPWARD.

20:07 HOWEVER, DO NOT BE SO OBSESSED WITH GETTING THE PUDDING MADE THAT YOU FORGET TO ENJOY THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE PUDDING. BECAUSE MOST OF LIFE IS THE PROCESS. YOU SPEND WAY MORE TIME ON THE JOURNEY THAN YOU DO AT THE FINAL DESTINATION. THINK OF PERFECTION LIKE AN ASYMPTOTE. THE JOURNEY TOWARDS IT IS INFINITE BUT THE DESTINATION CAN NEVER BE REACHED. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO TAKE THAT JOURNEY AND ENJOY IT KNOWING THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ENDLESS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, THEN YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

20:43 IF YOU STILL FOOL YOURSELF INTO THINKING THE END POINT OF PERFECTION IS SOMETHING THAT EXISTS AND CAN BE OBTAINED, I WORRY THAT YOU MAY MISS THE BEAUTIFUL CURVE OF THE LIFE WELL LIVED. NEVER ENJOYING WHERE YOU ARE IN THE MOMENT. ALWAYS WISHING YOU WERE SOMEPLACE, SOMETHING OR SOMEONE ELSE. IN CONCLUSION, FEAR CAN BE A GREAT MOTIVATOR JUST AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T OVERCOME YOUR DESIRE TO MOVE FORWARD. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, A RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAVE THIS WORLD BETTER THAN HOW YOU FOUND IT.

21:17 AND YOU DO THAT BY BEING BRILLIANT. BY LETTING YOUR LIGHT SHINE. AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE'S LIGHT. DON’T TRY TO COMPARE YOURS TO ANYONE ELSE’S. IF YOU FOUND THAT THING, THAT PURPOSE IN LIFE THAT GIVES YOU ACCESS TO MAXIMUM ENTHUSIASM, TRUST THAT. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A JOB, I'M NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT A CAREER. I'M TALKING ABOUT A CALLING. I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT THING THAT FORCES THE METAPHORICAL LAMP SHADE FROM YOUR SOUL AND MANDATES THAT EVERYONE WEARS SUN GLASSES IN YOUR PRESENCE BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST THAT DAMN BRIGHT.

21:57 THIS IS NOT A SELFISH ACT. BECAUSE NOW, THOSE WHO FALL WITHIN YOUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE KNOW WHAT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THEM. AND WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE SHINING, DON'T HATE. DO NOT TEAR THAT INDIVIDUAL DOWN. CELEBRATE THEIR SUCCESS AS IF IT WERE YOUR OWN. BECAUSE WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, WE RISE AND FALL TOGETHER. AY, THE NAME OF THE SHOW AIN'T US VERSUS THEM.

22:30 WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE THINGS THAT DIFFERENTIATE US. THE SHOW IS CALLED “THIS IS US.” >> WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME VILIFYING ANYONE THAT DOESN'T SEE THE WORLD THROUGH THE SAME LENS AS OURSELVES. AND I INCLUDE MYSELF AMONGST THAT GROUP. THE DARK SIDE OF THE FORCE IS INCREDIBLY APPEALING.

23:02 THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING AN SITH OR JEDI EXISTS WITHIN US ALL. WHEN FOLKS DISAGREE WITH YOU, WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER CLARIFY YOUR OWN POSITION FOR YOURSELF. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO DEVOLVE INTO ANIMUS. AND BELIEVE ME, I SAY THIS AS MUCH FOR ME AS I DO FOR YOU, DIALOGUE WITH THOSE OF DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES HELPS US DEVELOP EMPATHY. AS AN ACTOR, I DO NOT HAVE TO LIKE EVERY CHARACTER I PLAY. IT HELPS, BUT IT'S NOT A NECESSITY.

23:34 BUT I DO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THEM. AND I CANNOT JUDGE THEM AS I TELL THEIR STORY. THE DALAI LAMA SAYS “EDUCATION IS THE PROPER WAY TO PROMOTE COMPASSION AND TOLERANCE IN SOCIETY.” I REMIND MYSELF OF THIS FREQUENTLY. INTOLERANCE IS STILL INTOLERANCE EVEN WHEN IT'S FOR THE INTOLERANT. DON'T GIVE WAY TO HATING. DO NOT GIVE ANYONE THE POWER TO ROB YOU OF YOUR LIGHT.

24:06 ONE OF MY DEAREST FRIENDS FROM STANFORD WAS ANDREW JACOB DAHER. WE LIVED IN UJ TOGETHER FRESHMAN YEAR AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE YEAR HE SPENT ABROAD AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, WE SPENT EVERY OTHER YEAR EITHER ACROSS THE HALL FROM EACH OTHER OR RIGHT NEXT DOOR. HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL MIND AND AN EXQUISITE SOUL. I REMEMBER ONCE FRESHMAN YEAR SOMEBODY TRIED TO PUT AJD ON FRONT STREET AND THEY SAID “YO ANDREW. WHY YOU ALWAYS HANGING OUT WITH THESE BLACK PEOPLE MAN?” AND MR.

24:39 PHI-BETA-CAPA-IN ECON AND WITHOUT HESITATION, HAT PULLED WAY LOW OVER ON HIS EYES, HE SAID “BECAUSE I'M DOWN.” YEAH, ANDREW WAS WHITE. AND IN JUST BEING HIMSELF, AFFECTATION-FREE, HE HAD AS MUCH SOUL AS ANYBODY IN THAT DORM. AND IN CASE YOU FORGOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, I'M TALKING ABOUT -- UJAMAA!

25:14 THANK YOU FOR NOT LETTING ME DOWN. IN ANDREW, I FOUND A KINDRED SPIRIT. SOMEONE WHO WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE HIMSELF. WE STUDIED TOGETHER, WE WORKED OUT TOGETHER. THE FIRST TIME I RAN THE STEPS IN THIS STADIUM, IT WAS WITH ANDREW. I REMEMBER ONE NIGHT IN BURBANK STERN -- WE GOT A BAD DRAW NUMBER. WHAT CAN I SAY?

25:49 >> ANDREW AND I WERE WORKING ON AN ECON 180 PROBLEM SET AND I WAS STRUGGLING. FRUSTRATION WAS GETTING THE BEST OF ME AND THIS DUDE WHO HAD FINISHED HIS PROBLEM SET LONG AGO STAYED UP WITH ME TO THE SUN CAME UP AND MADE SURE I FINISHED MY HOMEWORK. HE WOULDN'T LET ME FAIL. I GOT A FEW STORIES LIKE THAT ABOUT AJD, I WON’T BORE YOU WITH THEM ALL. I WISH I HAD A FEW MORE BUT UNFORTUNATELY ANDREW DIED THE YEAR AFTER I GRADUATED.

26:23 MULTIPLE TRAUMATIC INJURIES SUSTAINED WHEN HE FELL FROM THE THIRD STORY OF THE BUILDING WHERE HE WORKED. WHETHER IT WAS INTENTIONAL OR NOT WAS UNCLEAR. THERE IS A TREE AND A BENCH IN LAGUNITA COURT IN REMEMBRANCE OF ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST HUMAN BEINGS I’VE EVER KNOWN IN MY LIFE. BRIGHT LIKE INTELLIGENT YES, BUT BRIGHT LIKE LUMINOUS.

26:54 ANDREW JACOB DAHER IS ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE I KNOW WHO ALWAYS DID HIS ABSOLUTE BEST. AND EVEN THOUGH HE'S BEEN GONE FOR 19 YEARS NOW, I STILL FIND MYSELF SAYING ONE DAY WHEN I GROW UP, I'M GOING TO BE JUST LIKE ANDREW. MY SON, HIS NAMESAKE, IS HERE TODAY. AND WHEN I SEE MY BOY AND I SAY HIS NAME, I SMILE.

27:25 BECAUSE I GET A CHANCE TO KEEP MY FRIEND WITH ME STILL. CLASS OF 2018, NO ONE IS AN ISLAND UNTO THEMSELVES. WE HAVE ALL BENEFITED FROM AND BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE NOURISHED US ALONG THE WAY. OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS, OUR TEACHERS. THE EASIEST WAY I CAN THINK OF SHOWING YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THEIR INVESTMENT IN YOUR HUMAN CAPITAL IS BY SHINING.

27:57 YOU ARE STANFORD GRADS NOW. YOU GET TO WALK AROUND WITH AN S ON YOUR CHEST. WHY NOT SHINE? >> AND REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT A SELFISH ACT. THIS IS THE WAY WE GIVE PERMISSION TO THE WORLD TO COLLECTIVELY STEP INTO THE LIGHT. I SHINE FOR MY CITY. BIG UP, ST. LOUIS. I SHINE FOR MY FAMILY. I SHINE FOR MY FRIENDS.

28:27 I SHINE FOR YOU CHOCOLATE CARDINAL. I SHINE FOR YOU, NERD NATION. AND I SHINE FOR YOU ANDREW JACOB DAHER. CLASS OF 2018, IT IS YOUR TIME NOW. DO ME A FAVOR, WILL YOU? TAKE YOUR LIGHT AND SHOW US THE WAY. GOD BLESS YOU. I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.