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Northeastern President Joseph Aoun told Northeastern graduates: “No machine can match your creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.”
This is part of our coverage of Northeastern University’s 2024 commencement.
Northeastern University’s commencement speakers encouraged graduates to remain active, embrace opportunity and meet — well — at least 25 challenges.
Speakers at Fenway Park Sunday talked about Northeastern’s new groundbreaking artificial intelligence research, the Boston Beanpot tournament and the importance of remaining curious throughout life.
They also drew smiles and rousing cheers throughout the day at Boston’s historic ballpark.
Here are 10 powerful quotes from the memorable ceremonies.
“A Northeastern education taught you how to transpose knowledge from the classroom to the outside world. As a result, no machine can match your creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.”
— Joseph E. Aoun, president of Northeastern University
“Build a team that you can lean on and learn from. As a team captain, there were points when I felt that I had to take on the weight of the world, but by surrounding myself with the right people, my perspective was broadened, and the process became more enjoyable. Learn to recognize who these people are in your life.”
— Megan Carter, master’s degree in human movement and rehabilitation sciences, graduate commencement speaker
“It turns out that rest is overrated. To heal as fast as possible, you need healthy movement. Doctors call this active recovery. It’s a great metaphor for life. You’ll sometimes take a wrong step. You’ll stumble. You might even crash. When this happens, it’s easy to feel discouraged. To withdraw. To stop moving. But that’s precisely the moment to apply the most energy. Get up and try again. Follow a different path. Summon the courage to move in a whole new direction.”
“Anything you do in your life requires a tremendous amount of courage and willingness to transcend obstacles,”
— Sethuraman Panchanathan, National Science Foundation director, who delivered Sunday’s graduate commencement address
“Your achievements underscore why our graduates are renowned and pursued by leading organizations and innovators worldwide. As scholars, leaders, entrepreneurs, artists and community citizens, you have not only reached new heights of excellence but also set a benchmark for future generations.”
— David Madigan, Northeastern provost
“Experience forces us out of our comfort zone. It requires us to deal with uncertainty. It compels us to communicate. It teaches us the art of listening.”
“We are explorers … from the moment we came into this world. Always be curious.”
“Northeastern’s distinctive competencies in experiential education, its focus on bringing together theory and practice. … There’s more demand for what makes Northeastern unique than there ever has been because they provided a light.”
— David A. Thomas, president of Morehouse College
“Northeastern helped turn me from a shy, quiet 18-year-old doing her best to blend in to someone who walks around Boston in bedazzled knee-high boots on a Tuesday just for the sake of turning heads.”
— Rebecca Bamidele, a combined major in biology and political science, undergraduate commencement speaker
“Each of you should vow that you are going to mentor, inspire, motivate and make opportunities for at least 25 people in your lifetime,” Panchanathan said. “If you’re done, go to 50. Look what a wonderful place you would create in this nation and across the globe.”