Joshua Laguerre’s Cap and Gown Address

Class of 2010,

We're here!

I'm sure you remember your orientation like it was yesterday. It was probably a nice summer day in July or August. You may have spent the better part of the day in Gaige Hall or Alger – meeting potential lifelong friends, and picking your classes for the coming year, and wondering what this place called college had in store for you.

Over the course of your time at RIC, you probably changed your major a couple of times, and at times really thought about your career and what you want to do with your life.

And as we have all changed over the last four to five years, so has RIC. RIC has received a new president, a new dorm was built, the Web site has been redesigned and a new tagline was created: "Reach, Inspire, Connect."

And while we have all been lucky to embark on this journey, for us, it is now over.

And the length of our individual journeys have varied – some of us took four years, and others, like myself, were here for five or more. And now that we are at the end of our RIC journey and beginning our own, it's time to think about the world we are entering.

We are entering a world that is full of promise and possibilities. Yet, it is uncertain, unpredictable and constantly changing.

Although we've witnessed many changes in our young lives, there are still more changes to come.

It's times like these that new ideas are adopted. It's times like these that change takes place. And it's times like these that allow the next generation of leaders to create a new path.

Class of 2010…We are that generation.

And as Commencement approaches, think about how you will make an impact in this state, in this country and the world.

George Bernard Shaw once said, "Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not."

Class of 2010, begin to think seriously about your dreams.

We've made it this far and on May 22, I ask you to take the first step towards your dreams!

Congratulations Class of 2010.

President Joshua Laguerre '10

Student Community

Government, Inc.