Alexandra Petri Quotes

In my fifties, I was still in creation mode. Now I have more of a responsibility to step back and mentor and offer wisdom, offer sign posts on the path.

I graduated with a class of 35 people. We had basically just enough people to actually have a play.

The commencement speech is not, I think, a wholly satisfactory manifestation of our culture.

I was pretty sure I lacked the wisdom to be the commencement speaker, but after stewing over the idea for about 48 hours, I decided that if the senior class at the University of Wisconsin wants me to come speak, I'll do whatever they ask me. I love that school.

One of my proudest moments in life was earning the valedictorian medal in high school. I worked so hard for it!

I'd been invited to deliver the commencement address to the Class of 2017 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Speaking live on television is one thing... speaking to 30,000 people in a football stadium is another.

Completing college is a big deal, and commencements do a good job of making the moment feel big.

I talk to women all the time and try to impart wisdom.

George W. Bush gave a commencement speech at Southern Methodist University this weekend. It was pretty inspirational. He said, 'As I like to tell the 'C' students, you too can be president.' Even George W. Bush has George W. Bush comedy material in his act.

Going to school and formal education wasn't all that impactful to me, but it was the people that I met at school that really made such a difference.

For me, it's vital to continue to share my experiences and allow my experiences to help the younger generation.

My sister and I graduated from Arizona State University where she was president and I was secretary of the College Republicans.

Receiving my first degree was one of the most important days of my life.

I graduated from University of Maryland, 1996 - or '97, actually.

One of the challenges of commencement speeches is that you have this older, wiser person who is accomplished talking to young, not-yet-so-wise, not-yet-accomplished adults or, in high school or middle school, even younger.

It was a dream come true to play for the University of Pittsburgh. My experience as a Panther is something that influences my life every day and I want to pay that forward.

I was into movies before my graduation results got out. In fact, I was on location of a movie when they came.

My entire college career has kind of been me stepping into my joy.

My mom gives great advice, and so does my dad.

My mother inculcated wisdom in us, and I want to preserve her wisdom in writing.

College was a very necessary step along the way to my professional career. As I look back, I realize how much of an eye opener it was for me in terms of moving forward and developing as a basketball player.

I definitely enjoyed it and I am glad I did university - four years of not being in the public eye - and I met all my best friends doing it, so I am definitely glad it happened.

I don't want to take away from anything from my time at Texas. I think it was actually pretty darn special.

You learn a lot in life but there are a lot of tools and resources in school that help you grow professionally and personally for whatever goal you may want to achieve.

I never expected to join the ranks of commencement speakers, especially at my alma mater. I had a tough time there, left eagerly, and returned rarely.