But as I visited schools in other places, none of them quite felt like home. Then I came to Bowdoin, and I immediately knew it was different. Something about it just felt right, and I suddenly forgot about my first requirement. Bowdoin has become my home in a way I didn’t fully expect—but maybe I should have because Maine has always been my home.
For those of us who have spent the last four years here, you probably already know that Maine is not just a place. It’s an experience. It’s something you feel in the air, in the way that people genuinely see you and show up for each other. For those of you who are visiting or are even here for the first time, I hope that today gives you even just a brief glimpse of what makes this place so special.
Maine is often described as quiet or simple, but Mainers know that's a misunderstanding. There’s a lot happening here, you just have to know where to look and slow down enough to notice it. At Bowdoin, we experienced Maine through the seasons. In the fall, it’s watching the sunset at Lobster Bake with your friends after a long summer apart. In the winter, it’s bundling up to walk to your morning class and learning that snow days don’t exist in college. And in the spring, after months of it getting dark at 4 pm, it’s jumping in the water at Mere Point because 45 degrees suddenly feels warm.
Although I’ve lived in Maine my whole life, being at Bowdoin has made me appreciate it in a different way. It’s not just a backdrop to our education or our memories here–it’s woven into who we are. The long winters taught us resilience, the beautiful days taught us gratitude, the people here taught us community, and somewhere along the way, all of us became Mainers.
As we gather here, I think Maine also embodies transition. A lot of what we’re feeling right now – joy, uncertainty, nostalgia, and even pride – is very much in line with what being a Mainer is like. Maine doesn’t rush you. It lets things unfold in their own time. I hope that’s something that we can all carry with us as we leave Bowdoin.
