A wise philosopher once said that " in the end, we're all just stories" . Chancellor Yu, Vice Chancellor Lehman, President Hamilton, honored guests, family members, and fellow members of the Class of 2018, please join me as I take you through our story.
The story of 300 dreamers who four years ago, grasped an opportunity of a lifetime and decided to come to NYU Shanghai.
The story of how we forged friendships that will last a lifetime.
And for better or worse, the story of how we posted things on social media that will as well.
The story of how, many of us wanted to give up, pack our bags and go home.
But we didn't and here we stand; united in glory, beaming with violet pride.
Over the last four years, NYU Shanghai has showed us, and continues to show us that if someone is open to it,
the ties that bind people - from their race, ethnicities or nationalities, etc. can be transcended by common ground -
whether that's leaving home for the first time, and exploring China with new friends,
or going to a GPS lecture together and learning that the answer is often " it depends, "