Commencement Speech by Deepa Rao

Well, Class of 2008, we are finally here. The last time I graduated, back in middle school, I was in a poofy white dress. But here I standhere we stand--clad in sleek black robes. These robes symbolize our end at PCDS and the beginning of a new journey. From above we must all look like little black dotstiny, neatly arranged, but not insignificant. When I pictured us from this perspective, I couldnt help but connect the dots with imaginary lines. It got me to thinking, what is it that really connects us? Our dressing alike symbolizes our unity as a class and our common achievement. And we are held together by a tapestry of memories, inside jokes, friendship, love, and those awkward turtle momentsbut there must be more. I realized that humans need to connect things. When we look to the heavens, we connect those fiery specks to create constellations; when we graph, we connect seemingly unrelated data points to understand their relationship; when we draw, we literally connect lines and dots to create art; and when we all have the chicken pox, we cant resist the urge to connect those itchy red spots. The act of connecting occurs from the subatomic level to the cosmic one: atoms covalently bond while galactic clusters are held together by gravity. But there is no law in physics that connects us on a human level. We humans connect through emotions, ideas, traditions, culture, sports, movies, and of course food. But our interaction goes beyond that. Humans not only need to connect things, we also need to connect to one another. Our survival as a species is a consequence of our ability to connect. Kinship, community, lovethese three things allowed us to cooperate and therefore use our collective intelligence to survive. However, throughout our

Phoenix Country Day School

Commencement Speech by Deepa Rao

history, the formation of one group of humans has lead to the exclusion of another. If we need to connect in order to survive, then why do we fight this necessity and fight with one another? Wars, prejudices, fear, and apathy prevent us from connecting with others. These barriers are not easy to overcome. Thankfully, the majority of humankinds greatest inventions are ones that connect people, not separate them. For example, railroads, phones, airplanes, the Internet, and of course Facebook, all have a similar purpose: to connect people. However, ironically these same things can isolate us. People today spend hours on the internet but never really interact with those around them. No amount of technology can ever replace the squeeze of a handshake, a heartfelt hug, or the warmth of a welcoming smile--these are what I will miss most about PCDS. Tonight, graduation night, we are here to celebrate our education. But all of this would not be possible without our teachers, family, friends, and especially our parents. These are the most important people in our lives. Outside of the classroom, theyve taught us the true meaning of friendship, education, teamwork, love and so much more. Inside of the classroom, weve acquired the skills to connect cultures, ideas, emotions, history, and information about the natural world and the cosmos. Science, art, literature, language, history, maththese are all tools to help us piece together the world, the universe, and life. With a wonderful foundation in all of these disciplines, it is the next generations turn to discover more and to combine our knowledge in novel ways. As author George Seidel said, " The ability to relate and to connect, sometimes in odd and yet striking fashion,

Phoenix Country Day School

Commencement Speech by Deepa Rao

lies at the very heart of any creative use of the mind, no matter in what field or discipline. Our imagination is our strongest asset. Whether its a new play in a game, a brilliant scientific conclusion, a witty metaphor, a musical composition, or an awe-inspiring painting--our imagination makes us unique. So thank you, our parents, our friends, our family, and our teachers for supporting our endeavors and for stretching our minds. Youve shown us how powerful a good education can be. Our education allows us to connect to the world around us. But often the hard part is discovering what is within us. The most powerful connection we can have is between our minds and our hearts. Logic and emotion are intertwined, and you cant separate them. So dont fight it! Life and love are about taking those inner feelings and harnessing them into something productive. If you follow your heart, things will work out. Steve Jobs said it best, You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. So, take a quiet moment to listen to yourself. Only then will you hear your heart beating. The fact that we are all somehow connected should not be taken for granted. Everything, no matter how distant or disconnected, affects us. A lonely flower in the desert, a lost piece of a jig saw puzzle, a man torn away from his home, a distant star that supernovas in our sky: every little thing belongs to something much grander than we could ever imagine. The flower is part of endless cycle of life and death. The lonesome puzzle piece, once connected, is part of a bigger picture. The disconnected man was once part of a

Phoenix Country Day School

Commencement Speech by Deepa Rao

lively home. And that supernova supplied our earth with the heavier elements that all life is composed of. John Muir, one of Americas first preservationists, understood this notion when he said, Tug on anything at all and you'll find it connected to everything else in the universe. So why do we humans have such a desire to connect? Simply because, it is the only way we can make sense of life and the world we live in. Its the reason the stars became constellations. Its the reason data became an equation. Its the reason lines became art. And our ability to connect is the reason we are here today. We are an incredible collection of minds and spirits; and when we come together we can achieve something amazing. Use your imagination, your creativity, your passion, and your intelligence to discover, to design, and to create. Heres my last piece of advice for all of you here: Connect the dots, and if youre missing one, draw it in!

Phoenix Country Day School