I would like to speak during Commencement because I have a story to tell: one of survival and hope. I owe much of my current career plans and future dreams to UCSB. Through innumerable interactions with students and teachers on campus, I have been able to better understand my abilities and redefine what I can contribute to the world. The next few paragraphs are excerpts from my hypothetical speech during commencement.
It is important to step back, withdraw into yourself and seek out what makes you truly happy. Such alone time is when you understand your purpose. If your dream requires you to take an off-the-charts path, people will stare. People stare when you do something extraordinary. Everyone looked at me as though I was crazy when I started writing my book. You lose perspective; this is acceptable as long as you find joy in what you are doing. When you descend into a personal underground to accomplish your goal, no one will be by your side. When you achieve, however, the world will celebrate you for taking the bold step.
We live in a very callous world. I ask that we take time off our busy lives to listen to our friends’ trials. In the College of Engineering, we like to walk about like Lord of the Living Dead during deadlines. Colleagues thought me mad for spending time empathizing with others’ plight. I always heard my friends say: “Who is this girl and what does she want?”. I had no concrete answer, then, except that it was easier to hear people’s woes than say, write code.
You might ask me why you should listen to your friends. You might not even see these people after you leave school. I have some results. They are probably more profound than all the fantastic research we do at UC. It turns out that kindness follows the first law of thermodynamics. I stand here today because of the unexpected generosity of a few busy graduate students. They are in the audience for me. They were there at a time when I did not believe anything good could happen to me. Thank you very much. When friends listen to you, it will be wise to remember that they are giving you their most precious asset: time. In return, you should not merely be thankful, but treat them like royalty. By extending this kindness in our community, we are taking definitive steps towards making the world a better place to live in.
I am here to tell you that the comfort zone is an illusion. Often, in life, you will find yourself in a situation where you are the best in the crowd. You realize that you are not being challenged sufficiently and that your peers are not bringing out the intellectual best in you. Here is a thought experiment I like to do in this situation. Think about the time when you had achieved a personal high and compare it the present you. If they are not the same, I call for some serious introspection. Remember that by being in this illusory comfort zone rut, you are doing a disservice not only to yourself, but to your stellar education and all the people who worked hard to help you achieve your best.
Coming out of such a secure zone is not easy. I would be a romantic fool if I told you so. You might have to acquire skills you did not even know existed, sacrifice your comforts, let go of time spent with friends and family, and destroy any inhibition that might stand in the way of success.
When you spiral upwards because of all the hard work, you introspect on your success. Imagine driving a Maserati to Malibu with your spouse and children. You realize that it was the the wonderful education you received at UC, that helped you truly understand your potential. I would like to conclude on this highly liberating note. Let us take a moment to celebrate the collective achievements of the class of 2014. Congratulations to all of you. We did it!
