commencement address at Morehouse College
in late May, graduates got more than the expected words of wisdom. Smith shared that as a child he and a few other kids in his hometown of Denver were driven, on Bus Number 13, across town to a high-performing school and how those five years changed his life by challenging him and giving him role models and a community.
Smith used the bus as a metaphor later in his speech. “You have the power within to be great, be you, be unstoppable, be undeniable and accomplish the things that people thought you never would. I’m counting on you to load up your bus and share that journey,” he said. “On behalf of the eight generations of my family who have been in this country, we’re going to put a little fuel in your bus,” Smith said, right before he announced that he set up a grant to eliminate the graduates’ student loans.
Students stood up and clapped, shouted and hugged. “[L]et’s make sure every class has the same opportunity going forward. Because we are enough to take care of our own community. We are enough to ensure we have all the opportunities of the American Dream and we will show it to each other through our actions and through our words and through our deeds,” Smith said.
Smith’s surprise announcement and pledge was covered by newspapers across the country; he was heralded for his gift as much as his words. But though he made the biggest waves, he wasn’t the only billionaire to speak to the class of 2019. This year’s speakers included Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, Michael Bloomberg and more. Here’s some of their best advice.Joe Angeles/Washington University in St. Louis“Our democracy – as the Founding Fathers understood – relies on more than just votes.
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