2023 Commencement Address

Congratulations, class of 2023!  This is your own very glorious day. And as I look around you— and into the distance of this beautiful park—I see the beaming faces of your families and friends—all of whom share in this special moment, all of whom take pride in your accomplishments.             

You know, at commencements, it often falls to a college president to provide a piece of parting advice—perhaps even wisdom—as we launch you into what is called “real life.” However, yours is a class that has had more than your share of so-called “real life.”  You grew up in the shadow of 9/11…and seemingly endless iterations of war. You have lived through political and economic turmoil in world markets as well as locally and witnessed repeated outbreaks of violence and blind bigotry…sweeping environmental destruction…threats to our democracy…and, of course, the pandemic. 

Just as you were planning high school graduation and anticipating college life, the world shut down – everything was either changed or cancelled. So, that is just the short list and that, I think, is “real life” enough. But there is another aspect of your “real life” I’d rather dwell on today. 

You see, for the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to witness an exhilarating parade of events that celebrate your achievements: award ceremonies, exhibitions, capstone presentations…our annual runway show. At each event, I met students eager to move on…eager to make their mark in the world. However, I have found that for many students “making their mark” translates into dreams not just of success—but of fame. After all, success and fame are deeply—perhaps even perversely—intertwined in our celebrity-saturated culture. 

Everyone today wants to be famous…to be an influencer…to create an app and sell it for mega-millions…to be a brand and perhaps you also hope to become brands…the bold-faced household names of tomorrow…the names on labels and logos and letterheads. But before you go chasing that limelight—and post one more picture on Instagram—I would like to share a story with you.

It is about a photographer named Vivian Maier, who—some years back—became the latest overnight sensation. She worked in total obscurity and made her living as, of all things, a nanny.    Vivian Maier lived in Chicago for most of her adult life and according to those who knew her, she was a reserved, quiet, rather awkward woman—a woman with no known family or friends. She died in 2009 and even to those children she cared for and their parents…she remained an enigma. Oh, they knew she took pictures. After all, she wore a camera around her neck all the time and took photos of them incessantly. 

Indeed, she roamed the streets of Chicago, shooting obsessively, passionately—and printed almost none of the more than 100,000 negatives that were found after her death. Those negatives proved to be, as most critics agree, a treasure trove of images…” brilliant examples of mid-20 th  century street photography” …tender, revelatory, often haunting images of children, women, the elderly and indigent…self-portraits, or selfies some would call them today. 

Many critics today place her in the highest ranks of American street photographers and her works are on display in museums and galleries around the world. How she was discovered, how her negatives came to be printed is another story altogether which you can easily look up. 

Why she printed almost none of her work…why she never shared… apparently, we will never know. This we do know, in today’s world, where we share every single second of our most intimate lives…where we build our own websites to advertise our wonderful selves, Vivian Maier seems hopelessly out of step. But I think hers is a story that offers a valuable life lesson.

In fact, it brings to mind reflections from another artist, one who knows a little something about the ephemeral nature of fame: The American actor Bradley Whitford – you might know him from that now classic show the west wing. “Life is too challenging for external rewards to sustain us,” he once said.  So, forget about fame.  “Fall in love with the process and the results will follow.  You’ve got to want to do whatever you want to do more than you want to be whatever you want to be.” 

I would say the same to you:  you’ve got to want to design…to build a business…to shoot pictures…more than you want to be a designer, a CEO or a photographer. It is the verb…the act of doing, not the noun, the act of being…that counts. 

As Mr. Whitford said, “the joy is in the journey.” Now I have no idea how much joy Vivian Maier took from her journey. But it certainly seems she must have derived satisfaction—perhaps solace—through her photography. It is clear from her work that she had a rich inner life, great curiosity, and a powerful confidence in her own vision. Perhaps for her, that was enough.

As you can see, fame, in my view at least, is a dubious goal at best. But that doesn’t mean you should strive for obscurity…squelch your ambitions…or that you should not dream the big dream. However, as you go on your journey, I hope you will fall in love with the process…work hard and aim high, be unafraid, unbowed, unapologetic. 

Life is full of surprises.  Most likely your journey will take you in unexpected directions, and as it does, make the choice. Let it test you…stretch you…galvanize your ingenuity…so that you grow and let your promises be a prophecy of what is to come and discover new strengths in yourself. Class of 2023:  let your talents and ambitions serve the world. Let the rewards for a job well done be  a job well done.  And when you finally take the measure of your success, think of Vivian Maier…and let the verb, not the noun, define you. 

My wish for you is for your journey to be defined by joy, purpose and consequence…and I wish you Godspeed.