Humorist Mo Rocca Addresses Sarah Lawrence College Graduates

Mo Rocca, humorist, journalist, actor, and writer delivered the Commencement address to an enthusiastic audience of undergraduates and their families; remarks to master's degree candidates were delivered by Joan H. Marks who led the College's renowned Human Genetics graduate program for 25 years.

Rocca, a contributor to CBS Sunday Morning and other news and entertainment broadcasts referenced his own trajectory from college graduate to popular media personality, advising the graduating class that though they might be feeling pressure, they've got time to find their passions. His advice: "Be careful about calculating…If you don't know exactly what you want, count yourself lucky: your life will unfold like the best kind of story…"

Rocca knows something about stories. The cornerstone of his project on the Cooking Channel, "My Grandmother's Ravioli," where he cooks with grandparents around the country, is about discovering their stories. He dished out a medley of advice, including:

"Everyone I know who has given up a high-paying job for something they care about has never regretted it.

"Beware of the feedback loop of social media. Yes, it's an audience, and the promise of instantaneous reaction can be tempting. But there's so much to be said for keeping things to yourself, incubating and protecting them, rather than putting something out there that's not ready to be put out there. Who you are, your voice, is not something to be crowd-sourced."

Addressing graduates of the College's nine master degree programs, Marks said: "Whether you are commencing to be a genetic counselor, a health advocate, a dancer, an actor, writer, teacher, historian, a therapist, or social worker, one thing every student at Sarah Lawrence has in common is the knowledge that what you learned here will enable you to go out and make the difference you want to make in the world."  A special performance by cast members from The Color Purple honored Sarah Lawrence alumna Alice Walker '65.

Founded in 1926, Sarah Lawrence College is a prestigious, coeducational liberal arts college. Among the leading liberal arts colleges, Sarah Lawrence is known for its pioneering approach to education, its long history of impassioned, intellectual engagement, and its vibrant, successful alumni. For more information, please visit www.sarahlawrence.edu.

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SOURCE Sarah Lawrence College

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