Student Address

We’re a group whose story could’ve easily been written for us. The onset of a worldwide pandemic didn’t give us the start of college that we deserved. While we shouldn’t brush past it, I don’t want to give it more time than it’s already taken. Instead, I want to commend us for standing firmly and writing a new story: the perseverance of the class of 2024.

You’re all doing incredible things: volunteering, leading, speaking up, learning, and creating. You’re constantly adding to your own personal stories while enriching the campus community around you.

When talking about stories and writers, it’s important to note that nothing is accomplished without challenge and no good story lacks conflict. College is not easy, but we all made the active decision to try this college thing out anyway. In the face of personal struggle, loss, and hardship, we prevailed, letting that pain be part of our stories. I know there are people I wish could’ve been here today and can’t and that the nature of the stories we can’t control can get the better of us sometimes.

Setbacks, rejection, and discomfort are what we’d prefer to leave only a small endnote for, but in truth, they play an integral role in our successes. Adversities are what elevate the good and make our accomplishments that much more powerful. That also doesn’t mean that we forget the parts that have made our stories difficult. All of us here kept writing.

Through my own struggles as well as my accomplishments, I felt something click: that I’ve become me.

At first I resisted this because change is terrifying. But, I also began to reflect on what I’ve done since coming to IC: I became a BOLD scholar, a woman in leadership, I was hired as a tour guide, later becoming a Co-Chair of the Admission Host Committee. I became president of Buzzsaw Magazine, earning the opportunity to lead fellow creatives, organize events, and oversee the production of a campus publication. It seems that I’ve also gained my voice too. All of these experiences became part of my identity and told a larger story.

Who have you become you? Who do you see yourself becoming? A researcher, explorer, musician, athlete, artist, daydreamer? If you imagine yourself four years ago, who have you become since?

Today is the last page of our undergraduate years at Ithaca College. What stories will you tell about your time here? What kind of story was it? In the end, it need not be a fairytale. For some, you might be glad the story is ending, but for others, Ithaca College is where the story started. Embrace that perseverance that got you to this point and remain curious about what’s to come. Sometimes it’s okay not knowing what comes next. Instead, what if we create space for the curiosity of possibility? The unknown is not always a bad thing…in fact, it often leads to life changing experiences. We came to college curious and for me, that was one of my best decisions yet.

Hold onto that thing that sparks your passion, and brings fire and joy within. Think of what that is:...that is what will bring you to tomorrow.

Here at Ithaca College, I became me. I have no clue where the time went, but I do know how that time was spent. I’m a storyteller, and I hope I’ve told our story today. I hope you keep writing your story and never let anyone tell it for you. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

Thank you and congratulations to the class of 2024!