Ambar: To the class of 2025, we cherish the times we’ve had together.
Nurah: I remember when we were freshmen, stumbling through campus, trying to find our way through friend groups, social events, clubs, and… other things….
Ambar: Now we’re graduating, about to embark on another chapter of life, and we know that as a class, we will embrace everything that life throws at us. “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.” This quote by Alice Walker, a Sarah Lawrence College alumna, writer, visionary, and advocate, is a poignant reminder of the strength and resilience each one of us holds.
Nurah: The times we live in right now are rapidly changing and devolving, but we know how adaptable and compassionate Sarah Lawrence has helped us become.
Ambar: This class has the opportunity to become vocal advocates for those who don't have a voice for themselves, and the opportunity to continue speaking up and advocating for a better and more just world.
As we look at the past four years, we can use the tools Sarah Lawrence has equipped us with to make that change.
Nurah: From conference work to the Polarization lecture series, Sarah Lawrence has always been a place where we were told to speak our minds and lead with wisdom and understanding. That understanding and wisdom will be the glue that holds our global community together and pushes us forward in the face of adversity.
Ambar: We stand here today as two black women from the south, at a historically womens college, who wanted to speak to this class, and this moment, beyond what we have done. But looking forward to what we have yet to do.
Nurah: We graduate today knowing that this is a privilege many don't get. 62% of students after graduating from high school enroll in college, and for students of marginalized backgrounds, that number gets lower and lower.
Ambar: We know that with every footstep we take closer into adulthood we will live up to that opportunity and make our mark on the world unforgettable.
Nurah: To the class of 2025, we say, go forth, be brave, be vocal, become the embodiment of community.
Both: Always and forever your class presidents,
Ambar and Nurah!
Congratulations Class!
Remarks as prepared for delivery