A week or so ago I walked graduation at College Eight, my college at UCSC. I still have seven more units to complete over the summer, but I was asked to address the audience on behalf of the graduating students of College Eight anyway. To write and edit the speech, I worked closely with Ravi R, the provost of College Eight, who has also mentored me over the past few years as I’ve worked through to the end of my degree.
The speech was ridiculously difficult to write, mainly because I initially wasn’t sure what to say; I didn’t particularly feel anything passionate about graduating. However, we worked through it, and here’s the result. Last names have been shortened to initials.
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Class of 2009.
When I was thinking about how to write this speech, my mind kept coming back to one piece of advice, given to me by Susan W., a College Eight Core Course Instructor. She told me, when writing, to “Write about what you know.” In this context, what I know is that I am glad I came to UCSC.
As I stand here amongst the College Eight Class of 2009, I think back to my decision to come to UCSC. I distinctly remember that many of my friends and family, who had heard rumors that UCSC is a relaxed party school, advised me against coming here.
Even my dad, though he didn’t say it, wasn’t completely thrilled with the idea that I was going to be attending a school renowned for its liberal politics.
However, I decided to give UCSC a shot, and, in the classic UCSC way, keep an open mind.
I am glad I did.
The students who have spent the last few years of our life here know that the real “Santa Cruz experience” is completely contrary to the perceptions some of my well wishers had when I applied. I would like to correct this impression. Such perceptions have potential to draw attention away from the sweat and toil of courses and exams, and the hard work involved in nurturing our passions, interests, and leadership abilities, all of which are, for most of us, part of the “Real Santa Cruz Experience.”
I’m sure speak I for my fellow classmates when I say that my “Santa Cruz experience” was academically rigorous and challenged me to think outside of the box. My “Santa Cruz experience” instilled in me knowledge and passion for the political and social issues that face our world today.
And maybe that’s what the real “Santa Cruz experience” is all about.
The real Santa Cruz experience is academically demanding and inspiring, and involves close interactions with internationally ranked professors. For example, one of my favorite courses was a linguistics class taught by Professor Jim M.
He is chair of the number one Linguistics department in the country.
The real Santa Cruz experience forces us to pay attention to local and global politics and shape our own informed opinions.
The real Santa Cruz experience makes us find something we’re passionate about and work hard at it.
The UCSC I know is full of hard-working, dedicated students. Students who are leaders, and who are passionate about their causes, whatever those causes may be.
For example, one of my classmates, Daniel Z., was the editor of the school newspaper, City on a Hill Press, along with Samantha T. He won an award for excellence in student journalism, and, in addition to participating in student government and interning for the Sacramento Bee, he’s going abroad this year to South America.
One of my classmates, Scott R., has been the president of the Disability Alliance. Andrey M. already has two engineering patents and is planning his own start-up. Jessica T. was a College Eight Resident Assistant for two long years.
UCSC boasts students who are campus coordinators, political organizers, researchers, and environmental activists. Students who work hard and throw themselves behind whatever it is they’re passionate about.
UCSC students have and will form big companies, and become CEOs. More importantly, UCSC students will always be pillars of their communities. We, UCSC students, will always be the agents of change.
And, although UCSC professors have routinely cautioned about the unreliability of Wikipedia as an academic source, I’m going to quote the Wikipedia entry on UCSC anyway. “UC Santa Cruz began as a showcase for progressive, cross-disciplinary undergraduate education, innovative teaching methods and contemporary architecture. Since then, UCSC has evolved into a modern research university with a wide variety of both undergraduate and graduate programs, while retaining its reputation for strong undergraduate support and student political activism.”
While some parts of Wikipedia may be uninformed, the entry on UCSC is accurate. UCSC is home to intelligent, driven, and creative students. Students who will be world leaders. Students who are entrepreneurs.
One of the most enlightening classes I took at Santa Cruz was with James D., a professor in Computer Science. The class was awkwardly listed as “Tech Targeted Social” in the course manual. The class was a study in what he called “Social Entrepreneurship.”
The basis of the class was to analyze and create ideas for companies that made a profit while helping someone. The idea was to incentivize doing good in the world. We frequently used the example of microfinance.
In the class, students came up with ideas for small scale electric generators, bamboo bikes, biodegradable plastic, and solar-powered hand-crank radios.
Eric G., one of my classmates, as president of the University Economics Association, started the first annual UCSC Business Plan Competition this year. His idea was to nurture student entrepreneurs and provide them the means to start up their own companies.
Those of us on his team, students and faculty members alike, were skeptical; we didn’t think that UCSC students would rise to the challenge, even when we advertised the first prize of $12,000. Some faculty members on board and I agreed that we would probably only receive 15 business plans, if that.
We received 47.
The plans ranged from renewable energy social networking sites, to pay-by-cellphone parking meters, to plans to address the counterfeit pharmaceutical industry, to the winning team, a sustainable baby food company.
The committee and I found it very appropriate that, amongst the technically oriented entries, the winning entry exemplified the UCSC culture of sustainability and health consciousness.
As evidenced by this enterprising student and many, many others among us, UCSC students are creative, original social entrepreneurs.
UCSC has taught us to be passionate. UCSC has taught us to be leaders. UCSC has taught us how to care about social issues.
Students in the graduating class of 2009 have been well prepared and want to make a difference. We have the drive and the courage to stand up for what we believe in and initiate social change. We are the solution to these economic trials and tribulations.
I know that many of you in the audience are worried about the economic climate, and the future of our country. However, let me assure you on behalf of my cohort – you can be confident in us. Give us a chance to prove what we’re capable of.
So, my fellow students, go out into the world, and start a business, or a joint venture. Start a company that will fix an problem you care about. Now is the time, and UCSC has given us the tools.
Good luck.
