2024 Commencement Address By President Mike Latham ‘86
There are some moments in our lives, when our joy is so strong, when our hearts are so full, and when our eyes are so clear that we witness something genuinely transcendent. In contrast to our daily routines, these moments create memories that last a lifetime. They make visible the love that God has for us and, at our best, the love that we have for each other. Gathered here tonight, students, faculty, staff, parents, families, Trustees, alumni and friends, we are all “children of Ka Punahou, the new spring.” This is a celebration of our graduates, to be sure, but it is also a celebration of the wider community we all share.
Graduates of the Class of 2024, congratulations, you did it! As I see you gathered here on stage, I am deeply inspired with hope for the future. And it is the future that I would like to talk with you about tonight. At graduation, we certainly reflect on our shared history and the past that binds us together, as you did at your beautiful Senior Chapel. But tonight is fundamentally about beginnings, which is why of course we call it a Commencement. How will you move forward from this beloved home? What will you do with your tremendous talent, compassion, and conviction? Which path will you take, and what purposes will you ultimately pursue? What do you want, and what is ultimately worth wanting? The questions may seem overwhelming now, but I am confident that in time each of you will find not just a career, but a true sense of vocation, a calling that allows you to align your great gifts with the world’s pressing needs.
As your President, I’ll offer just a few words of advice. First, begin with gratitude. Always remember that your achievements are not yours alone. Yes, you wrote the papers, took the tests, conducted the experiments, endured the practices, won the championships, performed the music, created the art, and lit up the stage. You absolutely earned the diplomas that I am about to hand you, and you should take great pride in that.
But you were ultimately successful because at every step of the way other people believed in, invested in, and supported you. Your parents and family, of course, played crucial roles, and so did the teachers, coaches and mentors who did their utmost to help you grow, learn and thrive. Each of them saw within you a person of amazing potential, and each of them gave their time, energy and love to help you arrive at this point tonight. There are two reasons why it’s so important to recognize that fact.
First, it should inspire you to thank them and to tell them how much they have meant to you, and I urge you to seize that opportunity. Second, that realization allows you to open your heart to look for ways that you might enrich the lives of those around you. As the Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel explains, if we allow ourselves to fall prey to the mistaken impression that we have made it entirely on our own, then our moral capacity starts to wither. We lose sight of the fact that success is so often the result of the kindness of others, and we lose the opportunity to genuinely ally ourselves with the virtuous strivings of those in need, particularly those who face obstacles and
disadvantages that are no fault of their own. Punahou’s mission statement speaks of our “kuleana to Hawai‘i and the world,” and I hope you always remember that the Hawaiian word “kuleana” reflects not only duty or responsibility, but also the work you do out of profound gratitude, and a recognition of how fortunate you are to be able to serve others.
I also want to talk tonight about courage. It’s an old-fashioned word, but I think it fits. You are all about to embark on a massive transition and your capacity to adapt to a new environment will be pivotal. Whether you have been at Punahou for 13 years, or for just a few, whether you are traveling across Mānoa Valley or halfway around the world, you are all going to encounter new settings, new demands and new challenges. That thought, no doubt, generates apprehension as well as excitement. Some of you, surrounded by other brilliant students, renowned faculty, and high expectations may also develop a bit of imposter syndrome, wondering if you really belong there.
When that happens, remember that it’s OK to be uncomfortable! In fact, real learning and growth require exactly that. The truth is that, whether they admit it or not, those other kids are all going through the same thing. Punahou has given you the training and the tools, so be bold and make the most of the freedom that college provides. Allow yourself to explore areas of study that you are interested in but unfamiliar with. You might just find a talent or capability you didn’t even know you had. Ask questions. Speak up in class. Go to your professor’s office hours. Join a club, try a new sport, volunteer, and get involved. Take the time to get engaged in at least one sustained activity outside of class where you will have the chance to build friendships. As one recent Punahou graduate I know very well put it, “since it’s going to be weird, you might as well go all out!” So, take a deep breath, remember that everyone is adapting, and make the most of the incredible opportunity in front of you.
Finally, I hope that you will cultivate a strong sense of empathy. I am sure that it has not escaped your notice that we live in an era of sharp polarization, a time in which political and cultural divisions within our own nation have escalated to a stunning level. As our society faces enormous challenges in the form of global conflict, climate change, and the ethical implications of accelerating technologies, we need to deepen our capacity for thoughtful, rational discussion and inquiry. To do that, moreover, we need to engage with and learn alongside people whose backgrounds, cultures and perspectives may be very different than our own.
As Wesleyan University President Michael Roth argues, “students should hope to encounter ideas and experience cultural forms that push them beyond their current opinions and tastes … Education should help you find ways of shaping change, not just coping with it.” As you head off to college, I hope that you will seek out opportunities to widen your horizons and thoughtfully, respectfully discuss challenging questions and ideas with classmates and friends, including those who don’t share your views.
That’s not always easy to do, but if you can find the right settings and partners for honest and respectful dialogue, you can learn a great deal. You may not change what you believe, but you may emerge with a better sense of why you believe what you do. If you can develop enough empathy to understand why others think differently, you might also work toward some form of common ground. Remember too, that it’s OK not to have all the answers. While others may rush to judgement, there is real value in intellectual humility and honest curiosity. I have great confidence that you will each find your voice, and that it will truly be your own.
Thank you to all who made this joyful night possible. Mahalo to the Trustees who have joined this celebration, to our Academy Principal Gustavo Carrera, Junior School Principal Todd Chow-Hoy, and your class Deans, Reet Ashford and Jon Koshiba, for their compassionate guidance, care, and support of you all. As Dean Ashford retires from Punahou after guiding six Academy classes to graduation, I also want to recognize her deep and enduring commitment to our school and our students. Mahalo to our musical leaders, Lauren Williams and Darin Au, to our many wonderful parent volunteers, and to Lynn Kunishige, the amazing architect of this ceremony and a friend to so many of you.
To the Class of 2024, congratulations and thank you! I am in awe of what you have done, and even more impressed by the people you have become. You have made Punahou a better place, and I can’t wait to see what you will do in the future. We are very proud of you, we will miss you, and we hope you come back often. Aloha, and God bless you all.