Steven Van Zandt Tells Rutgers Grads To 'Embrace Your Jersey Roots'

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Speaking at Rutgers’ 251st anniversary commencement Sunday, rocker Steven "Little Steven" Van Zandt told Rutgers grads to embrace their Jersey roots and be "Jersey strong."

“Embrace your Jersey roots. That authenticity. Jersey strong. It doesn't matter where you are from, you are in the Jersey family now," Van Zandt told a crowd of about 45,000 Sunday at High Point Solutions Stadium. He also talked about how he and Bruce Springsteen both struggled as young artists from the Jersey Shore. “Can you imagine the faces [at the record company] when Bruce went to discuss the cover of his first album and handed them a postcard that said ‘Greetings from Asbury Park?’’’

Van Zandt spoke about his days rehearsing in a garage as a member of Springsteen’s E Street Band before the group earned worldwide fame, his political awakening and work to fight South Africa’s apartheid. But he also spoke about the price he paid for his activism, which made it hard to get work for several years before he landed a role on the HBO hit The Sopranos. He also touched on issues of climate change and pollution and told students the future is green.

“Greatness isn’t born, it’s developed,’’ Van Zandt said. “Greatness is a decision that you make, and you make that decision every single day in everything you do, no matter how small.’’

He ended his speech by telling students to keep their standards high. Do your homework before you open your mouth, he said. Finish what you start.

“When your ship comes in you will probably be at the airport,’’ Van Zandt said. “… You can make all the plans you want, but keep yourself open for unexpected opportunities because that is where most of life comes from.’’

“Reach for greatness, nothing less, and make sure you have some fun along the way,’’ Van Zandt concluded. “Life should never be boring.’’

Rutgers President Robert Barchi also talked about the value of diversity at Rutgers.

“You know that diversity is not simply demographic facts,’’ Barchi said. “This diversity has made you stronger. You know what it means to come from very different backgrounds, and to hold different points of view, and yet to recognize in each other the dignity that each and every individual in the community deserves."

“In many cases you are living examples to the importance of immigration to the future of our society," Barchi said, to much applause from the audience.

Photo: Nick Romanenko/Rutgers University