Commencement Speech
Linda Phiri
Aristotle once wrote “We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must
learn to sail in high winds.” That’s what we did, we sailed in high winds, and here, in this
moment, we rest at bay.
Greetings, Interim President Lynch, Members of the Board of Trustees, honorary degree
recipients, dear; alumni, staff, faculty, family, and friends
As we close a chapter titled college in this book called life, I want us to spend time basking in
the glory of this page- commencement, the resolution after the years of action, expectation and
most of all growth.
To my fellow graduates, do you remember what it was like during our first days at
Brandeis? The sense of excitement, joy, anxiety and fear as we embarked on a journey distant
from the familiar. Before we knew it, we were quickly swept away by all those people in orange
shirts filled with relentless energy and a welcoming glow. Our Orientation Leaders took us from
point A to B, then C to D and then others joined them as we travelled here- to point Z. In those
early days, we debated which was better, North Quad or Massell? We wondered, do we like
dining at Sherman or Usdan? We fumbled with the campus map, trying to figure out the
difference between the SCC and ICC. For all those unfamiliar with these terms, although not
listed in the general university requirements, Deis, I mean Brandeis has abbreviations and
acronyms for almost everything. The big green building, the SCC, that’s our Shapiro Campus
Centre, where a lot of the magic takes place. We had a lot to learn, not to mention trying to book
this thing called the “Bran Van”, to be honest, some of us still struggle with that. However, at
present we can find most locations in our sleep, we have forgotten about the North Vs Massell
feud and realize that we had the beautiful Mods and Ridgewood to look forward to living in. And
if there was ever a degree in acronyms, we would all earn PHDs.
I came as an international student having lived in Malawi, Mozambique and Swaziland.
My coming to Brandeis was the first time I landed in the United States. I was undeniably
overwhelmed, but I could not have chosen a better community to experience my cultural emersion.
Fast forward to now, at the doors of transition, as we return to those familiar feelings, as
we reminisce and dream all at once, let us reflect and slow down. Before we take this leap
forward, I want us to take a chance to be here with each other and appreciate what we have done
and what has been done for us.
At Brandeis, I have learned a very important life lesson, which is - you are and therefore,
I am. I have discovered that I am a young woman on the verge of self-realization, wondering
what time and space mean. However, I am also a young Brandesian woman who has been
strengthened by your love, tested by your curiosity and inspired by your intelligence.
It is difficult to formulate what to say about such unique individuals who are composed
of varying layered life experiences. I wish we could have a commencement for each and every
one of us, because I know that there are others worthy to stand in front of you with countless
tales about adventure, romance and action. Nevertheless, I will spend my time talking about what
made us special as a unit and as a community over these four formative years. Our Brandeis
story wasn’t a moment, neither was it an event that you can explain in an elevator pitch. It has
been a multitude of conversations, interactions that built one larger experience.
I have placed our time together within three main umbrellas that I would like you all to
stand beneath with me this morning. Our scholarship, our relationships and our leadership.
Firstly, Scholarship:
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Commencement Speech
Linda Phiri
Ever since my first days at Brandeis, I have witnessed new initiatives emerge. I watched
community service projects rise, theater productions created, and research transform how we can
build our community. We learned not to take the world at face value, but rather to reimagine it
and hold ourselves accountable on the path to fulfilling that image. Our scholarship went beyond
examinations and testing, we have been active learners and have engaged in the world in an
experiential manner. Through our imagination we have defined what it means to be the change
we want to see. The world is far from perfect and so are we, but we've done the most magical
thing of all, we've acknowledged it and decided to challenge one another to change things not
only outside our community, but right here and now. To name a few, Global brigades, who go to
Honduras every winter and spring to volunteer in the field of health and economics. Sorensen,
Segal and World of Work Fellows, who literally trek the nation and the globe to influence
change, in civil rights, gender equity and so much more. And right here on campus Relay for
Life and FordHall2015. Through these experiences we’ve been inspired to find what we are
passionate about, because only within our passions will we leave a lasting legacy that
simultaneously brings us joy as we live a life of service to our community.
I came to Brandeis, as did most of us, knowing that it was bigger than us. As I tried to
explore what my thoughts were prior to Brandeis, I looked through my application. A
supplement asked “Imagine you have to wear a costume for a year of your life. What would you
pick and why?” and I responded: “I would choose a blind fold. We live in a world where
everything is tied to what we see, and our other four senses usually are given a back seat.
Although sight is an excellent sense, human beings have made a mistake of overdependence. At
times sight can foster fear. I know that I see and fear difference sometimes. Without sight for a
while I think that I could build my imagination and curiosity. Instead of seeing things as they are
and being indoctrinated into how things should be, I could create new things to apply to this
world.”
Four years ago, I came here and I met you all, our predecessors, and amazing faculty and
staff who allowed me to live this dream. We stand in the gap of injustice and choose to make
change where we can and how we can. Here, we have set the footsteps for generations to come,
I'm looking at future writers, doctors, lawyers, filmmakers, singers, poets, dancers, who will let
the banner of social justice reign in its multifaceted shades and hues of diverse fields. I sincerely
encourage you to get each other’s autographs. We came here to learn how to be part of a world
that is so desperately in need of our experiences. Not only the good ones, but all of them.
Someone will need to know how you made it through your tough days, because we all have
them. It is not in the moments of comfort that our character is revealed, but rather in times of
adversity. At Brandeis, we are a community that values character, and we have faced challenges
in these past four years, academically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. However, they were
more importantly, relevant, revelatory and transformational.
I would not be a Brandeis student if I did not pay homage to our academics. I want to say
to you today: you are champions. Remember writing that paper that made you feel like it had
taken all the words that you could possibly possess. Think of the classes where you made the
best of friends because you were struggling with the material. Finance, Accounting, Stats, and
Organic Chemistry. I am not a science student, but I think I am still scarred from Orgo (as they
call it)… On a serious note, I love that I went through those times because I made inexplicable
bonds on the struggle bus. Furthermore, hold on to that proud feeling when a professor said
“good job”, or more importantly when your peers said “let us work together next time.”
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Commencement Speech
Linda Phiri
Remember those who encouraged you, loved you and supported you and said, “you’ve got this,”
which brings me to,
Relationships:
I mean your relationship with yourself, which is usually overlooked. Then with each other and
then to the world. Firstly, learn to love yourself, your achievements and most of all your failures.
Learn from them and find joy in the growth that comes after the fall. Then, be there for one
another, be the matches that light each other’s candles in the dark. We don't plan for disaster, it
just happens, but these friendships here, are important, make them last, and continue to invest in
others the way you did here. Use the lessons you learned here to build more relationships in
future.
Through our interactions, I have realized that I am not a hero, and what a relief because
that would be a lot of pressure. But rather, together, we are humans capable of heroic acts that
can change the world. Brene Brown author of the Gifts of Imperfection once wrote that,
“Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we are all in this together.” And I
have experienced that sense of comfort here with you all.
Lastly, Leadership:
At Brandeis we have had opportunities to grow and develop, as peer counselors, and
advisers, officially and unofficially. We have also discovered that true leadership means service
and collaboration. An ancient Malawian proverb says that “A great leader is an ordinary person
with extraordinary wisdom.” As we step out in faithfulness to our future selves, let us boldly accept
our responsibility to be innovators who cross frontiers in the pursuit of wisdom. As leaders, let us
remember to work hard, but also to stop to smell the roses. Today we are reaping the harvest in
the spring, we are witnessing ourselves bloom. Look around you, this is what flourishing feels
like!
Class of 2016, prior to Brandeis we dreamed of being in college. We are now walking in
the glory of a future that we could only have imagined before this momentous occasion. My hope
for all of us, is that years from now, we will be walking in the glory of a future that we so desire
today. And I hope that we leave, like we did Brandeis, every place we enter, better than we found
it. As we close this chapter, I want to leave you with the words of CS Lewis, “There are far, far
better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
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