Deval Patrick At Bentley Graduation: The World Is In Turmoil

WALTHAM, MA — Former Governor Deval Patrick challenged Bentley University graduates at Saturday's undergraduate commencement ceremony to be a voice for others and “seek purpose not prestige” at this time in history when “the world around us is in turmoil.”

Approximately 8,000 people attended the ceremony, including 1,073 graduates.

“Lead with purpose, to make change, to have impact, to improve the lives and circumstances of those you are privileged to lead. Coasting along and simply doing no harm is not enough in normal times. But these are not normal times. The world around us is in turmoil.”

He called upon graduates to consider their purpose:

“I urge you to seek purpose not prestige, meaning not just money, because purpose and meaning make everything else worth the effort.”

And to consider the responsibility of power:

“Think of the opportunities your Bentley degrees have given you not just to occupy the corridors of power for the sake of your own achievement and prestige, but to occupy the corridors of power for the sake of all of the folks who are waiting for those in power just to glance in their direction and give a damn. Because when you decide to glance in their direction and give a damn, you decide to make your moment in power count for something.”

Patrick said that behind any decisions or choices the graduates would go on to make once in positions of power there was one thing that mattered most, and should not be forgotten.

“What matters most are the human souls behind the policy choices we make. If we don’t see the people behind those choices -- the meek as well as the mighty -- what purpose is there behind the prestige?”

“In times like ours, leaders need to lead. Timid, cautious, coasting leadership feels unfitted for the moment. Because everybody’s anxious. And anxiety is combustible. Sometimes leaders use that anxiety to fuel fear and division. Better leaders use it to fuel the future.”

Patrick, who spoke at Bentley President Gloria Cordes Larson’s inauguration in 2008, returned to campus for one of Larson’s final events before she steps down as president in June. Patrick received an honorary doctor of commercial science degree at the ceremony.

Photos courtesy Bentley University.