May 14, 2010, 2 - 4:45 p.m.
South Lawn, Columbia University
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View the galleries below for a chronicle of the day's events
Quoted
As you decide how to react, remember that nothing is more important than following your conscience and being true to your values. The most inspiring people are not just incredibly talented, but also incredibly decent.
You are now stewards of our Nation’s justice system. I believe the privilege of earning a Columbia Law degree brings with it an ongoing responsibility to use your gifts and training to improve this system.
With our legal degrees in hand, I hope we’ll continue to be inspired by the same passion that helped us thrive in law school. There’s always a risk of forgetting why you came to law school, and what compelled you towards this intellectual pursuit and profession in the first place. But we came here to empower ourselves and enhance our ability to pursue what we care about.
What I’m saying is, yes, we have worked hard, and we have really earned this degree, but we . . . have brought out the best in each other, and that makes us all each other’s true reward.
We are more than the limitations and labels that we put upon ourselves. And we are charged with the duty of upholding the values of equality and justice regardless of our practice area.