Speech by President Samuel Hoi
Otis Commencement
Saturday, May 10, 2003

Proud parents, families, faculty, staff, and distinguished guests - It is my great pleasure to welcome you, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, to the 2003 Commencement ceremony of Otis College of Art and Design.

And dear Class of 2003, congratulations! This morning, we are gathered to celebrate your graduation from Otis, and to wish you well as you leave the College and embark onto the next phase of your career. We know whatever you go on to do, you will embody the excellence of Otis and do us proud. We know that because of the amazing progress you made at Otis and because of your superb exhibitions on display right now and the incredible fashion show last week.

When Martin Puryear, the sculptor, was asked, "What were your expectations of a life as an artist? He said, " I didn't approach the prospect of being an artist with the notion that anything was guaranteed, or that I had a right to anything, least of all success. It's the kind of life you go into with a lot of hope, but you really take your chances. The reward has been the chance I've had to live a life that involves doing what I love more than anything else, and having that be at the center of my life rather than on the periphery." These are beautiful words and wise insights.

Today's world is not one where things come guaranteed, and it does require us to live in it with a lot of hope. Yes, we take our chances, but the odds of you enjoying success as Otis alumni are extremely good.

You will likely find material rewards. History has proven that Otis alumni do well. Otis graduates enter the professional world with the individual style and vision and specialized skills required to excel. They have risen to the top of their chosen fields and gain prominence. As the newest Otis graduates, you are also innovators and leaders equipped for success.

However, success is best defined by your own terms. Choosing Otis, you followed your heart and pursued an art and design education. You are already on the path of a passionate life, doing what you love most. In Martin Puryear's and my book, you have already found the formula to success. You will touch others' lives and help make the world better because you believe in what you do, and because you bring to the world the force and the influence of your conviction.

And you have great influence in today's society. We live in an age when art and design can truly make a difference. For designers, this is an age of design. We rely upon you to enhance and to connect life, aesthetics, and technology through the design of communication, form, and function. For fine artists, our evolving and sometimes muddled world needs you more than ever to record and illuminate our times, to question our conditions, and to empower expression.

With talent come responsibilities. Creativity is a most potent resource of our time. Therefore, you are especially valuable contributors to our culture, our economy, and our humanity. During your studies at Otis, you have infused this community with vibrancy, passion, ideas, and a sense of renewal. We now look forward to your doing the same for the world at large.

Class of 2003, we are so proud of you, and our warmest wishes are with you always.