Stand for what you believe in: building your life the right way.(Transcript)

BUILDING YOUR LIFE THE RIGHT WAY

Address by JANET RENO, Attorney General for the United States

Commencement Address to Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1999

Thank you, Chris, for this very special day. This morning I looked out the window, looked across the fiver and felt I was looking at America. This is a wonderful city and a wonderful university. And to the graduates, I wish you well. I wish you well. You've done it. And I am so impressed with the students that I have met this morning. And to the families who have made this possible, you should be so very proud. I have been impressed by the realism of these students and I have been deeply touched by their idealism and I hope you never ever lose it. I have listened to their examples of service and their commitment to service in the community. I am often asked, what do you think of young people today? And my answer is a very, very vehement, I think they are perfectly wonderful. They want so to contribute, to make a difference, to help others, to contribute to their community; they're funny, they're witty, they're creative. Yes, they're mischievous at times. But you are perfectly wonderful and I salute you for the generation that you will be in this next century.

But you have hopes and fears and you have question marks. You have a place to draw some answers to those question marks from this wonderful university; from the people you have met here you will draw strength and wisdom, understanding and faith that will be with you all the days of your life. And you will have friends that will be with you for all of your life. Lessons learned here will guide you in success and failure, joy and sorrow. Wisdom gained here will chart your course through a world which will change before your very eyes.

How do you navigate it? Don't let the vastness of the world overwhelm you. Take it one problem at a time, one day at a time and don't let it intimidate you.

How? First of all, be yourself and believe in yourself. I began to learn that lesson when I was eight years old. We lived …