Remarks as Delivered by Secretary Marcia L. Fudge at the Ohio State University 2023 Summer Commencement

Secretary Fudge: O‑H!

Audience:  I‑O!

Secretary Fudge: Good afternoon to you all. Good afternoon, Provost Gilliam, Chairman Fujita, Board of Trustees, Cabinet Members, Faculty, Family and Friends, I thank you for everything you have done to help our outstanding graduates reach this milestone. I also want to thank my good friend Congresswoman Joyce Beatty for joining us today.

To all of the loved ones in this audience, your sacrifice, your love, your praise, your care packages, your cash apps are a huge reason we are here today. So let's give them all a big hand.

Most importantly, to The Ohio State University 434th Graduating Class, I congratulate each and every one of you. You have reached the end of your journey here on campus, but your story is just beginning.

Whether you are the first in your family to earn a college degree, as was I, the child of immigrants, a single parent, a student‑athlete or a working‑scholar... If you’re graduating Summa Cum Laude or if you have just decided it's a happy day to be here, today is a tremendous achievement for you and all those who will follow in your footsteps. 

For many, I know that the road that brought you here was not easy. As a proud alum of Ohio State, it is my profound honor to share this day with you. I stand before you as the 18th Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. But not too very long ago, I was a young woman from Cleveland moving into Lincoln Tower, determined to become the first person in my family to graduate from college. On this campus, I made lifelong friendships, I honed important skills, and learned invaluable lessons I still use today. For one, I learned to never mention “the school up north” -- at least not by name. I still cross out “M’s”, you know. Something I learned when I was here. As a student at The Ohio State University, I pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and met my dearest friends.

I worked hard, and I played hard.

It's true.

On this campus, I got my first real taste of civic service. With my sorority sisters, I realized giving back was just as fun as partying on the weekend. I’m sure some of you can relate to doing community service after a long night at Ethyl and Midway. Did I get it right? All right.

Most importantly, as a Buckeye, I truly began to understand the power of choices. Every chance I got to make a choice to serve, to give back, I chose that path. It is the rent we pay. No matter what you do in life, I ask that you take time to help someone who is less fortunate than you.

The choices helped guide me toward public office, and ultimately that is why I stand here with you today. Graduates, in the coming years and decades, you will be presented with many choices. My challenge to you today and every day is to choose wisely. Class of 2023, your generation has the power, and the potential, to leave this world better than you found it.

You have access to technology and information that we never had, at your disposal, and it will allow you to do anything you choose to do. At every step of the way, Ohio State has given you all the training and preparation you need to make a difference, to make the best choices for yourselves and your community.

As you begin the next chapter of your journey, I would not be surprised if the dreamers among us are looking ahead with joy, but that the realists have some concerns about what will come next. I won’t pretend that I know what it's like to come of age in this time, in this society. Every day we are confronted with another tragic reminder of how dark things have gotten.

Perhaps I have always seen the glass half-full. I have seen so much. I have lived through difficult times before, but lately, even I am worried about the future of this country. I don’t blame you if you feel anxious about what is waiting for you once you leave campus.   I won’t hold it against you if you are angry about decisions that have been made about your safety, your bodies, our ability to read what we want and to teach the truth.

 But, class of 2023, you have the power to choose faith over fear. You can choose hope over despair. Good over evil. Justice over injustice. Truth over lies. The choice is yours. What kind of world do you want to live in? What do you want your legacy to be? Many of you will wake up tomorrow and say, what happens now?

As you prepare for the rest of your journey, I want to leave you with a few things that have guided my life, from one Buckeye to another.

First, it costs nothing to be kind. In a world full of cruelty and unkindness, do the opposite. Be nice to people. Do all the good you can. People help people they like. Not always the smartest, not always the best-dressed, but people they like.

Know that the world is always watching you. So you never give anyone a reason to doubt your character.

Always give the best you have. Every day will not be your best day. You will not wake up every morning and be ready to give 200%. Sometimes it might be 50%, but just always remember to give the best you have that day. Every day.

Practice patience. I know that you will have a long life. But that means that you have plenty of time to get everything right. You don't have to be perfect today. Give yourself some grace. Give yourself time to learn and grow. And ignore all the haters.

My fourth piece of advice is to never stop learning. Just because you have a degree from The Ohio State University does not mean you know everything. I consider myself a life‑long learner., and you should, too. Because if you think you know everything, I encourage you to read more. To talk to more people, to gain a new understanding, to get a different perspective. You will be surprised what you learn about yourself in the process.

Expect setbacks. I can’t predict the future, but I do know this. You won’t always win. You will not get every job. The world isn't fair. And that's okay. Because you are resilient, and there is nothing more human than failing, but there is nothing more powerful than having the courage to pick yourself up and try again.

And my last tip is use your voice, because you do have the power. You have all the tools you need to make a difference to leave this world better. Give back so that those who follow you will have a better experience than you had. Your chapter here may be ending but this is just the beginning of your journey. Class of 2023, we need you to help build a better tomorrow.

So enjoy today, celebrate all you have accomplished. But when the real work begins, as it will soon, never forget that your choices have the power to change the world.

Class of 2023, you are the ones we have been waiting for.

Congratulations!