“So at last we meet,” actor, producer, businesswoman and philanthropist Sarah Jessica Parker said to the Harvard Law School Class of 2016 during Class Day ceremony. She confessed that this year’s graduating class has been on her mind a lot these past months, “a distraction and a beautiful burden. In other words, you’ve basically become my children.” And, like her own offspring, she said, she has hopes and ambitions for all of them.
Parker went on to share her list of hopes for the the Class of 2016, drawn from her own experience as an actor, parent, businessperson, and “as somebody who has had the extraordinary good fortune to pursue the things I love.” She urged the graduating class to “cling to your sense of self and uniqueness,” learn how to wrangle your fears, and follow the golden rule. “I believe it’s what gives us the most meaningful success,” she said. “The admiration and trust of those whose lives we touched.”
“The world of law awaits your good sense, your unique perspective, and your careful consideration,” she told them. “Art, culture, politics, community and the larger world beckon for your head and your heart. I know you are ready.”
Read Sarah Jessica Parker’s full remarks from Harvard Law School’s 2016 Class Day (PDF)
Additional coverage
Boston Globe: Sarah Jessica Parker to Harvard Law grads: ‘Wrangle your fear’
Harvard Crimson: Sarah Jessica Parker Makes Case for Dreaming at Law School Class Day
Harvard Magazine: Sarah Jessica Parker Speaks at Harvard Law School Class Day 2016