Senior Speaker: Political Science

A message from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences:

Each year, our graduating students in every major select a student to speak on behalf of their area of study. Because we are a large college, the time allotted to our ceremony does not allow for each speaker to appear on stage. However, these speeches have been recorded for your viewing pleasure. 

At its core, our College supports open and free inquiry and debate about the most weighty and consequential subjects that face us all. Each student was given a minute to speak on whatever topic they think will be meaningful to their peers. Some of the contributions are lighthearted, others are serious, and some may inspire some people and conflict with the values and beliefs of others. But that is the nature of free inquiry and debate: it should challenge us and make us think. We are proud of every one of our graduates, whether or not we agree with the views they express here. 

Transcript: 

When you are an immigrant or a child of immigrants, you become an adult earlier on. Adult aspirations emerge and with them, adult obstacles: fear, anxiety—guilt. We work tirelessly to become something greater—something worth overcoming our barriers for. And especially, for our families.

Our families, who are here today or are watching an ocean, a land, or a world away. Lo hicimos (smile). Now, standing here, while I feel gratefulness, I also feel immense fear, as many of us probably do.

In the last four years, we have witnessed regimes fall, and regimes rise. We have watched our worlds be turned upside-down as our neighbors go missing and our hope diminished. But, in the last four years we have also read the Greats.

From Fanon we learned to fight for our freedom while Gandhi taught us to rise higher than our enemies could ever fathom going. So, yes. We have been knocked down, but most importantly, we have learned the power of us.

Congratulations class of 2026, ¡y viva a los imigrantes!