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№ 2010.020 — Stanford University — Commencement keynote
Susan Rice
U.S. ambassador to the United Nations
Susan Rice reflects on how much the world has changed since her own 1986 Stanford graduation and argues that progress comes only from deliberate human effort. She challenges graduates to become agents of change in the fight against global poverty, framing it as both a moral and national security imperative, and illustrates this with the story of a destitute boy she met in Angola. She closes with personal advice about pursuing one's passions, being fearless, prioritizing family, and committing to service.
Key moments
- 01 Comparison of the world in 1986 versus 2010 to show the pace of change
- 02 Argument that global poverty is both a moral and national security challenge
- 03 Story of an unnamed Angolan boy as a call to serve the most vulnerable
- 04 Specific challenges in education, agriculture, disease, and climate
- 05 Personal career and life advice, including pursuing passion and valuing family
Visual speech map
Susan Rice at Stanford, 2010
A commencement address about deliberate change, global poverty, security, service, passion, and family.
- 01 1986 to 2010
- 02 Human effort
- 03 Agents of change
- 04 Poverty
- 05 Security
- 06 Angola story
- 07 Four challenges
- 08 Family and passion
Change
Progress is made, not automatic
Rice compares 1986 with 2010 to show how rapidly the world can change when people act deliberately.
A generation of change proves history can move.
Progress requires people choosing to work.
Graduates are called to be agents, not spectators.
Moral test
Global poverty matters
Poverty is framed as both a moral emergency and a national security concern.
Extreme poverty demands human response.
Instability and deprivation shape global safety.
The Angolan boy becomes a symbol of people policy must see.
Fields
Where service is needed
Education, agriculture, disease, and climate become concrete arenas where graduates can apply skill and commitment.
Opportunity starts with learning.
Disease work is part of justice.
Environmental change intensifies vulnerability.
Life advice
Serve without losing the self
Rice closes with guidance on passion, fearlessness, family, and a durable commitment to public service.
Choose work that keeps conviction alive.
Do not shrink from hard assignments.
Service and ambition need human anchors.
Transcript
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Verified from official archive; cross-referenced with NPR commencement archive; cross-referenced with Open Commencement DB; targeted event-level link verified
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