Several of our alumni brothers spoke at college commencement exercises this month while others received honorary doctorate degrees at similar ceremonies.
For example, Tom Brady was invited to address the graduates at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. He discussed the lessons he learned from some of the trials and tribulations he experienced while playing for the University of Michigan and again for the Patriots.
“My career was filled with challenges and choices,” Brady told the graduates, “with small opportunities to show people, including myself, what I was capable of. My hope is that you’ve already had a few of these moments as well. I hope you have already begun to try hard things with long odds. I hope your failures have focused you to find new pathways to success. I hope they force you out of your comfort zone and show you the boundaries in your life that are there to be broken through.”
Another Patriot alum, Matthew Slater, spoke at graduation ceremonies at Providence (RI) College.
“I believe there are two things that every one of us has some control over,” Slater told the students. “The first is striving to become the best version of ourselves. Every one of us has been gifted in incredible ways. There only has been one of you. Your gifts, perspective, voice, and experiences are literally one of one.
“The second thing that we can control is how we share our humanity with others. I believe one strength as Patriots was our togetherness, our brotherhood, connectivity, the way we did life together. We shared a human experience, and we understood that we were part of something bigger than ourselves.”
Troy Vincent received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters after he spoke to the graduates at Franklin & Marshall College (PA).
“Setbacks are not signals to stop,” Vincent reminded the graduates. “They are opportunities to grow stronger. You didn’t just complete a degree here at school. You navigated uncertainty, global disruptions and a world that refused to slow down while you were figuring out who you were becoming. That matters. Take a moment and own that achievement.”
Finally, Panthers alum Greg Olsen spoke at commencement exercises at the University of Miami (FL), his alma mater.
“There is nothing wrong with the concept of being greats” Olsen said. “Chasing greatness fuels everything we do. But, in your pursuit of greatness, don’t forget to also be good because there’s a lot of value in being good as you worry about being great. One of the other keys is to keep moving. My life is not a snapshot of a given time where we are forever compared to others at the same moment. If that was what life was, I never would have been in the lead. I never would have been in first place. It was here at UM that I experienced the lessons that changed my life forever.”
Former quarterback Colt McCoy addressed the graduating class at the University of Texas and Drew Brees received an honorary Doctor of Business degree from his alma mater Purdue University. Giants alum Mathias Kiwanuka also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters form Boston College, his alma mater.
We congratulate these alums for the major recognition they received by being asked to speak at these graduation ceremonies. Their words of wisdom to the young graduates also could be useful in the lives of many of us as we continue to acclimate and achieve in our post- playing days.
