To the class of 2017, / today / you end one chapter, / but you are about to begin the greatest adventure / of your life. // Just think for a moment of how blessed you are / to be here today / at this great, great university, / living in this amazing country / surrounded by people / who you love / and care about so much. // Then ask yourself, / with all of those blessings / and all of the blessings that you've been given, / what will you give back to this country / and indeed to the world? // What imprint / will you leave / in the sands of history? // What will future Americans say / we did / in our brief time / right here on earth? // Did we take risks? // Did we dare / to defy / expectations? // Did we challenge / accepted wisdom / and take on established / systems? // I think I did, / but we all did / and we're all doing it. // Or did we just go along with convention, / swim downstream / so easily with the current / and just give in / because it was the easy way, / it was the traditional way / or it was the accepted way? // Remember this, / nothing worth doing / ever, / ever, / ever, / came easy. // Following your convictions / means you must be willing to face criticism / from those who lack / the same courage / to do what is right. // And they know what is right, / but they don't have the courage / or the guts / or the stamina / to take it / and to do it. // It's called / the road less traveled. // I know that each of you / will be a warrior / for the truth, / will be a warrior for our country / and for your family. // I know that each of you / will do what is right, / not what is the easy way, / and that you will be true to yourself / and your country / and your beliefs. // In my short time in Washington, / I've seen firsthand / how the system is broken. // A small group of failed voices / who think they know everything / and understand everyone, / want to tell everybody else how to live / and what to do / and how to think. // But you aren't going to let / other people tell you / what you believe, / especially when you know / that you're right. //