Actor and Comedian
University of Virginia, 2015
Ed Helms, a talented actor and comedian, brought laughter and inspiration to the University of Virginia's 2015 commencement ceremony. With his signature humor, Helms relayed personal stories and life lessons, encouraging graduates to embrace the unpredictable path ahead and find humor in life's challenges.
10 top life lessons by
- UVA’s History and Founding: UVA was founded by Thomas Jefferson with the goal of attracting talented students from other states to “drink of the cup of knowledge.”
- Famous Alumni: UVA has produced notable alumni like Tina Fey, Edgar Allan Poe, and D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
- Embracing Individuality: Embrace your uniqueness and don’t let others define you; define yourself.
- Challenging Labels and Stereotypes: Labels and stereotypes can be limiting; challenge them and seek to understand the full picture.
- The Power of Self-Improvement: Strive to be better than your former self; personal growth is a noble pursuit.
- Responsibility and Action: With education and youth comes great power, but responsibility is optional. Choose to take responsibility and let your light shine.
- Making a Positive Impact: Your light, when allowed to shine, can illuminate the world and make a positive impact.
- The Importance of Letting Your Light Shine: Use your power and education to let your unique light shine and make a difference in the world.
- Embracing the Journey: The journey of self-discovery and self-improvement is ongoing and filled with opportunities to define and redefine oneself.
- Celebrating Individuality and Diversity: Celebrate your individuality and uniqueness, and recognize that diversity is a strength.
Best quotes of ‘s speech
Video of ‘s Commencement speech at University of Virginia
GRADUATION SPEECH QUOTES
Never let others define you, define yourselves.
You are millennials, which is the biggest generation of the United States. I thought it was hard for me to find a job. It’s going to be like The Hunger Games out there for you guys.
…
It has been said that a rolling stone gathers no moss. I would add that sometimes a rolling stone also gathers no verifiable facts or even the tiniest morsels of journalistic integrity
Rolling Stone tried to define you this yea. As a result, not only was this community thrown deep into turmoil, but the incredibly important struggle to address sexual violence on campuses nationwide was suddenly more confusing than ever and needlessly set back.
We’re all guilty of this. How many times do we label someone with our first impressions only to be proven wrong? The tattooed motorcycle guy who turns out to be a teddy bear, the buttoned-up co-worker who actually knows how to party, or the mousy librarian who takes off her glasses to reveal she’s a bloodthirsty alien from a distant galaxy.