Commencement speeches that made us laugh, cry and aspire to be better people
Summer is just on the horizon, which means it's graduation season. And while no one loves sitting through long ceremonies, an amusing, heartfelt or inspiring commencement speech can bring a little joy and humor to the usual pomp and circumstance.
Check out some highlights from our favorite 2014 commencement speeches.
"Don't be an a**hole" - Shonda Rhimes (Dartmouth College)
While the writer and producer of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal made jokes about beer pong and maybe said poop more than any commencement speaker in the school's history, she did bring the real talk to the graduates, criticizing meaningless hashtag activism:
Hashtags are very pretty on Twitter. I love them. I will hashtag myself into next week. But a hashtag is not a movement. A hashtag does not make you Dr. King. A hashtag does not change anything. It's a hashtag. It's you, sitting on your butt, typing into your computer and then going back to binge watching your favorite show. For me, it's Game of Thrones."
She also encouraged the graduates to appreciate the opportunities college has and will allow them:
Watch Shonda Rhimes' full speech
Read Shonda Rhimes' full speech
"One of you will sort out the details of my prenup" - Mindy Kaling (Harvard Law School)
Actress and comedian Mindy Kaling returned to her hometown of Cambridge, Mass. to offer her advice to the graduates and as expected, she went for the LOLs right from the start, citing Harvard Law's illustrious alumni like Elle Woods, "from the trenchant documentary 'Legally Blonde.'"
Kaling joked about the types of cases the young legal minds would face:
But she also encouraged the graduates not fall into mindless celebrity worship:
Watch Mindy Kaling's full speech
"Do not pick your nose in public" - Sandra Bullock (Warren Easton Charter High School)
Academy Award-winning actress Sandra Bullock went for more practical advice when she surprised the graduating class of a New Orleans high school, including gems like:
"Eat something green every day, with every meal."
"Do not pick your nose in public. How about we just go get a tissue?"
"If someone doesn't want to play with you, it's OK. Not everyone is going to love us. Go find someone who is going to want to play with you and appreciates what you have to offer."
Watch Sandra Bullock's full speech
"Being a hater isn't cool" - John Legend (University of Pennsylvania)
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter John Legend just wants us all to feel the love. He argues that the opposite of love isn't hate, but instead fear and hate is a byproduct of fear:
And fear keeps us from loving. Even though we're made to love, we're often afraid to love. We're afraid of being hurt deeply... But you're never going to really love something or someone unless you put those fears aside. Don't hold back. Being in love means being ready to give freely and openly, and being ready to risk something. Risking pain and disappointment, conquering your fears, and becoming anew."
Watch John Legend's full speech
Read John Legend's full speech
"Dream bigger" - Sheryl Sandberg (City Colleges of Chicago)
We all know Sheryl Sandberg would like to see us all "lean in," but the Facebook COO had a few more words on chasing one's dreams:
But she also offered advice on not being overwhelmed by those big dreams:
Read Sheryl Sandberg's full speech
Watch Sheryl Sandberg's full speech
