If you’ve ever been to a commencement, you know they can be, well, boring.
But this past weekend, chief medical correspondent for CNN and University of Michigan alumni Dr. Sanjay Gupta returned to Ann Arbor and showed how an interesting and fun commencement speech can be given.
Within the first minute of Gupta’s speech, he had the audience engaged and laughing:
Not only was the foundation for most of my life conceived in this town, I myself was likely conceived in this town.
Best bet is the 17th floor of the University Towers. But no one is talking for sure after 43 years.
He shared a wonderful story about how his mom was passing through Ann Arbor in the 1960’s and her car broke down. She was an immigrant from half way around the world.
She found the closest phone booth, and selected an Indian name that started with an “A.” The person she was trying to call wasn’t home.
But the person who answered, the person who would become her husband, and Sanjay Gupta‘s father, answered the phone.
Gupta dared graduates to dream. To do their best.
Wake up every morning with a sense of purpose.
Gupta shared ten life lessons with the graduates and encouraged them to make each moment count.
He ended his talk referencing the University of Michigan fight song:
When you walk off this field today, you won’t just be graduates.
You’ll also be champions. You’ll be the leaders.
And the best.
