Parting Words

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Denise Applewhite/Office of Communications

EDUARDO BHATIA ’86

Former president of the Senate of Puerto Rico 

“In this climate of confusion, misinformation, and lies, nothing is more powerful than the inconvenient truth of real facts, the strength of honor, and the persistent sound of our voices. But let me warn you: It can get very lonely out there in the wild forest of righting wrongs and instilling honesty in public service.” 

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Denise Applewhite/Office of Communications

Class Day keynote speaker 

CORY BOOKER

U.S. senator, D-N.J. “Today you are your ancestors’ wildest dreams. But for the dreams to truly be real ­— for the dream and hope of this country that is in the balance in this moral moment — it is going to take a lot of power. So my hope today is that you leave here and be powerful. Let the world feel you every day.”

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Photo: Beverly Schaefer

Valedictorian 

KYLE BERLIN ’18

“It is my parting wish that we ... be able to truly listen to others and draw on a compassionate stance of the world that moves beyond the tiny and tenuous borders of the self, that silences the egoistic monologue assuredly running through your head at this very moment.”

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Photo: Beverly Schaefer

Salutatorian 

KATHERINE LIM ’18

(Translated from the Latin) “Now from our home that has nurtured us, let us embark on adventures into unknown lands beyond this great institution. May you find success wherever your journey takes you!” 

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Photo: Beverly Schaefer

Class Day speaker 

CATHERINE SHARP ’18

“Princeton ... gave us the tools to take risks by challenging us to always be better: better at writing, better at researching, better at crying. Princeton taught us to be afraid of nothing. ... It taught us that we have to stand up and fight for the things that we love, and there’s nothing we love more here than Late Meal.”

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Photo: Beverly Schaefer

Class Day speaker 

ANDREW HARTNETT ’18

“Sure, Princeton’s academics are unparalleled. And I’ve never forgotten that I was only able to come here because of Princeton’s generous financial aid. But at the end of the day, Princeton had the one thing I was looking for in a school: a Wawa with a skylight.”