News
106th Whittier College Commencement Ceremony
May 22, 2009
The 106th WHITTIER COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY took place at Memorial Stadium under a brilliant Southern California sky on May 22. More than 350 graduate and undergraduate students smiled anxiously and soaked in the sun's rays, waiting for their opportunity to walk on stage and receive their diploma.
Keynote speaker Dr. Marian Wright Edelman—noted children's rights activist—provided the Class of 2009 the needed inspiration and advice for life post-graduation.
"As you leave this wonderful place, I hope you will wander off the beaten career path, and help redefine success in the 21st Century. Asking not 'How much can I get?', but 'How much can I do without and share?' Asking not 'How can I find myself?' but rather 'How can I loose myself in service to others?'"
In addition, Dr. Wright Edelman advised students, "Don't fail to listen to the genuine within yourself. If you cannot hear it, you will all your life spend your days on the end of strings that somebody else pulls. There are so many noises and so many competing demands in our lives that many of us never find out who we are. Learn how to continue your silence and be quiet within yourself so that you can hear the pounding of the genuine within yourself, and then be able to hear it in other people."
In his poem, Notes on the Future of Love, written for Whittier College's Class of 2009, Poet Laureate Emeritus Al Young provided a sobering view of the future and challenged the class to create a brighter day.
"In your cozy time zone, sandwiched now somehow
between Iraq and another place hard hit,
where do you come down on the future of love?"
Taking her turn at the podium, student commencement speaker Martina Miles '09 reflected on how she became a Poet.
"At Whittier we are not Poets solely because of our mascot but because we are taught to fashion ourselves into the characters we wish to be. We are taught how to write ourselves into being and if you are here with me today, you are already the author of your own life."
Moreover, she challenged her fellow graduates to live up to their potential.
"It means honestly recording where our stories are taking us and reevaluating the plot if it does not match our goals. It means, in essence, being accountable to ourselves, our best selves, the selves we have created here."
In her Charge to the Class of 2009, President Sharon Herzberger reminisced on the day, four years ago, that she welcomed the Class of 2009; she too was new to campus.
"We were newcomers together," she said. "We are all Poets now."
President Herzberger cited the diverse and unique accomplishments of this graduating class that consists of scholarship winners, fellowship awardees, athletes, musicians, artists and of course poets.
"The education you received here has helped you develop respect for community, for service, and for learning, working, and living with people of all backgrounds and all circumstances, and for listening to each other and finding common ground. You have the means to achieve much in this life you have been given; go forth and make us proud."
Media Coverage
Commencement Ceremony Slide Show/Video
- pictures taken by Tatiana Shabelnik
- pictures taken by Steven Burns
Multicultural Graduation Celebrations
- Latino Graduates Celebration Video
- pictures taken by Steven Burns
