President Obama congratulates graduates of US Air Force class 2012 Wednesday during their graduation ceremony. (JEWEL SAMAD?AFP/Getty Images)
“I told them when they called, I said, ‘You know, I dropped out of GW.’ It was my third and final attempt at college. And they said, ‘Oh, no, that’s cool. Come on ahead.’ (3) So I plan to slow jam the commencement address. (4)
“On this most auspicious of days, I want you to take a breath and reflect: Don’t blow through this day even if you’re overwhelmed with family or maybe you’re just a little bit drunk. (5)
“You will be stupid. You will worry your parents, as I worried mine. You will question your own choices, you will question your relationships, your jobs, your friends, where you live, what you studied in college — that you went to college at all. The thing I want to say is: That is totally OK. (12)
“People bemoan this generation that is growing up living life in front of screens, always connected to something or someone. These people are wrong. (13) I’m only asking you to stop every so often and turn off your mobile device, put down the Angry Birds and the Words with Friends and take a moment. Stop to look up and look around. (14)
“Your final and perhaps most impressive distinction — breaking the world’s record for the largest game of dodgeball: 3,000 participants, 30 hours. I didn’t know that was possible.” (16) You have one life, so make the most of it. And, by the way, have some fun along the way. (17)”
Think you know who offered which pearls of wisdom? Find out below the picture:
1) Justice Sonia Sotomayor, NYU, May 16
2) Ted Koppel, University of Massachusetts Amherst, May 11
3) Brian Williams, GWU, May 20
4) Michael Bloomberg, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, May 13
5) Jane Lynch, Smith College, May 20
6) Mitt Romney, Liberty University, May 12
7) Jim Lehrer, College of William & Mary, May 13.
8) Garry Marshall, Lafayette, May 19
10) Oprah Winfrey, Spelman College, May 20
11) Colin Powell, Northeastern, May 4
12) Ira Glass, Goucher College, May 18
13) Eric Schmidt, Boston University, May 20
14) Maria Shriver, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, May 11
15) Aaron Sorkin, Syracuse University, May 13
16) President Obama, Air Force Academy, May 23
17) Tony Blair, Colby College, May 20
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