I have had the wonderful blessing of attending this prestigious institution as the grandson of Mexican immigrants, the son of hardworking parents, and with the intersectional identities of the Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities. As a first year student, I was extremely soft spoken and timid. The idea of sitting in a class with a handful of other incredibly bright students intimidated me. Those small classes challenged me and pushed me outside of my comfort zone, which in turn, inspired me; it inspired me to embrace the uncomfortable because quite frankly, that is where effective growth transpires. That is what makes this institution so special - Whittier’s intimate learning community fosters relationships with professors and peers to connect about school work, professional development, or something as personal as how long it took to find a parking spot in the morning. We’ve learned to be analytical, observant, and interdisciplinary, allowing us to excel and contribute to the world in ways that others won’t.
President Barack Obama said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” Our time to leave a legacy of positive change is now. I look out into the crowd and see first-generation students, record-breaking athletes, the siblinghood of societies, innovative research interns, global scholars, club presidents, social activists, and even a few Johnny Poet mascots. I have strong faith that every single one of you will be that exact change – and our time here as Poets has already inspired us and given us those tools – let’s use them.
The last four years have taught me to love myself and embrace everything I have to offer. Who you love, the color of your skin, your socio-economic status, your gender identity, and who or what you believe in are not walls, but in fact bridges that help you realize your visions. I stand here, like so many of you, proud to have found and embraced myself and fully articulated my passion and values that will inspire what I will do next.
Although we must say goodbye to our cherished “chicken parm” days in the CI and the cute Poet puppies on campus, we now embark on those aspirations we set for ourselves in the days leading up to this ceremony. A few reminders: be comfortable with being uncomfortable, endorse your diverse education, be proud of who you are, and advocate for the change you wish to see. Do these things, and I know you will lead fulfilling lives.
Congratulations my fellow graduates, the trailblazing class of 2018.
- Rudy Marquez '18
