2006 Northwestern Commencement - Sen. Barack Obama 

I graduated in '06 and was at this commencement.. I was in awe after this speech, as I think many in audience were. Oh, and I voted for him for president (and senate in '04)!

Dear President Obama, I tuned in to your speech today to improve my skills as an American Sign Language Interpreter. That I did, but I also came away with an inspiring message that motivated me to change. Thank you!!

What an honor this was, what an honor this will always be. Thank you, Mr. Obama, for your commencement gift to the class of '06.

I can only honestly say I miss this man. This man is awesome. Just awesome.

Inspiring speech from the President. Congratulations!

What a speech. They way he humanizes politics and conveys the importance of social awareness and pursuing ones passions above ones mere short-sited desires. This man will go down in the history books as one of the greatest Presidents, as well as human beings, of all time.

Thank you so much for posting this!

what he said about the U.S. then is applicable now.

I did too - I mentioned as much to some fellow graduates and their families I met at a restaurant later that evening.

"casual about his future" oh my the dramatic irony

9/10 great speech

shall come so remember for you

hate all the hate on this man, he's an inspiration, once in a lifetime politician

he's trying to tell us that we too often see the people and things around us in a superficial way, and we too often do not dig deeper why things are as they are. for example, when he talks about people who sleep in the street and beg food, I immediately think that yeah, they are poor and they can't manage their lives and they must be lazy and they must already give up on themselves. but this is all our assumptions, or presumptions, though logical but never true until you ask about those homeless people why they live like that, what are their stories, how are their family, what happened in their lives and etc. we dont ask those questions very often. but we always jump to conclusions and define who they are. and this is what ignorance is all about. we're just presumptuos people aren't we, if we allow ourselves to keep on that way.

Great speach Mr. President. You call the true 2006 and now you keep your promise to solve this problems you talked about. Keep up your good work. God bles you.

I did. I thought the feeling was palpable. I wonder how many others felt it too. There could of been no better speaker on that day, at that graduation.

WOW that was a really great speech. He speaks the truth obviously, and I wonder how they all felt. Really powerful stuff, advising them to go with the heart over the brain, don't just go out and get those high paid jobs that will make you rich but empty inside do something that you are passionate about that might not pay well at first but will make you richer inside and make a differnce in the world! Where are they know I hope helping Obama 08 in his campaign!!

IL Stsen., 13. U.S. Sen., IL. 44th POTUS

crazy most of these grads are now in their mid-late 30's

Very inspirational

my future university!!so proud!!!!

I miss president Obama. far from perfect, but so eloquent, intelligent, and level-headed. times were much better under obama.

please watch why god matters by marty novitsky...... thank you its on youtube

"i have to be better than john mccain..." and guess waht happens a few years later....

I've gotten a true story. You got short storytime.

He is so nervous common guys kinda easy to see it especially the beginning.

I know right. What a coincident... Or was it? :P Looking forward to my turn in 2010!!!

Very lucky.

Sounds like pre Biden at dchhoonboar

exit soul visited.time not too far..

At least they gave him some goddamn speech therapy lessons come campaign time.

Sad 😭

I want to be Elaine!!!

Go NU!!!

Obama did a much better job back then now...hear his speech in 09 and 10...a little bit structureless comparing with this one at NU.

Precedent Obama!!!

yah

he's so arrogant