To the Class of 2026: this moment is yours. You soon will be graduates of one of the most distinguished colleges in the country. Today, surrounded by these pines and by the people who love you most, we celebrate everything you've accomplished.
People often describe graduation as turning the page to a new chapter, I am not sure that is the most fitting phrase. Chapters belong to the same book. Your time at Bowdoin has been its own story — distinct, formative, and complete in itself. What comes next is not simply a continuation. It is something altogether new.
As you leave here, you will begin writing that next story. It will reflect your interests, your values, your energy and your willingness to explore what you do not yet know. No two of your stories will be alike — and that is how it should be.
Bowdoin has prepared you well. You leave with knowledge, you’ve been challenged to think critically, and hopefully formed a positive perspective on how to seriously engage with the world.
There's a line attributed to the Greek philosopher Theophrastus: "Time is the most valuable thing a person can spend." That thought has stayed with me over the years, and it feels especially relevant on a day like this. As you move on from Bowdoin: treasure time.
Seek out experiences that expand your horizons. Have conversations with people whose lives and views differ from yours. Read deeply and broadly. Take care of your health. Make space for joy, and for loss; because both are part of a life fully lived. Whether you're heading to a job, graduate school, service, or still trying to figure out what comes next — build a life not only defined by accomplishments but by integrity, engagement and importantly, happiness.
The "Offer of the College" expresses the hope that you leave Bowdoin with “the keys to the world's library” and a “host of friends”. That is an ambitious standard, and I genuinely hope both are true for every one of you. The friendships especially. Accomplishments matter, but the people who accompany you through life will sustain you.
So, as I wish you good luck today, is not because I think you'll need luck in the sense of finding easy success. You’ve already demonstrated you are capable of what you set your mind to. What I wish for you is something harder to hold onto: to stay curious, to stay present, and to be open-minded with an open-heart in an increasingly complicated world.
Congratulations, Class of 2026. We are proud of you, and we look forward to all of your stories.
