On May 14 family, friends, faculty and students gathered for the Volgenau School of Engineering Convocation. The student speaker, Sarabjeet Kapoor, said, "Standing on this stage takes me back to a time over a decade ago when I walked across this same platform to receive my high school diploma." A decade and three degrees later, Kapoor said he feels as if he has come back to where is journey in higher education started.
About the Speaker
Sarabjeet Singh Kapoor received a bachelor of science in computer science. Prior to attending George Mason University, Mr. Kapoor attended the University of Virginia where he was an Echols Scholar and Robert C. Byrd Scholar. He double majored in history and philosophy and graduated with distinction. After gradating from the University of Virginia, Mr. Kapoor attended American University's Washington College of Law where he received a juris doctor degree and graduated cum laude.
Mr. Kapoor has several notable professional experiences. He is honored to have worked as an attorney helping domestic violence survivors at the Asian Pacific American Eagle Resource Center. Later, he was an attorney with the Chugh Firm, a law firm with multiple offices across the United States and India, where he assisted international technology companies.
After graduation, Mr. Kapoor is excited to start a career in cybersecurity.
Full Text of Speech
Congratulations Class of 2015! You made it! As the rapper Drake once said, "Started from the bottom, now we're here!" After today, you will live a life that is free of quizzes, midterms, finals. Let me say that again: no more finals! What are you going to do with all this free time? Are you going to develop that new killer app? Are you going to run marathons? Or are you going to finally become that Game of Thrones superfan you wanted to be and learn Dothraki or High Valyrian?
The reason I am here today is because I have seen the other side and I want to help you with your transition. Despite my youthful good looks, this is the third degree I have received from a college. My first undergraduate degree was from the University of Virginia and I also have a law degree from American University. I've been where you are few times and I want to share with you a few lessons that I have learned through my journey.
When I started my first real job, I was worried that people were going to discover that I was a fraud. I didn't have any idea what I was doing and I couldn't believe that I had convinced someone to pay me money. Thankfully, you realize that no really knows what they are doing and everyone is just googling for answers anyway. The best part is that you can mess up in the beginning. You are the new guy. Use that status to your advantage. Allow yourself to be a beginner again.
In case you haven't already realized it, life is hard and sometimes unfair but we have been granted a fantastic coping mechanism. Mark Twain once said, "The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter." It's easier now than ever to get yourself to laugh. You can go on YouTube right now and watch countless hours of cat videos. You can even watch a specific genre of cat videos in which cats are playing the theme song for "Miami Vice" on the piano. Develop an addiction to laughter. I have never said that I laughed too hard.
Before I start my last point, it's worth mentioning that I remember almost nothing from any of the graduation ceremonies I participated in. I definitely don't remember what any of the speakers said.
If you remember anything from today, just remember to be gracious. You are so fortunate to be able to get a college education from an institution as good as George Mason. Let us celebrate how far you came today by thanking all those who helped get you here. One great way to show your gratitude is by becoming involved with the George Mason Alumni Association. A vibrant alumni association will make the degree you earn here more valuable.
Let's also remember that there are people in the audience right now who are going to wait hours just to see you walk across this stage for 10 seconds to receive your diploma. Let's give them a round of applause right now. Taking my own advice, I'd like to thank my parents and especially my wife who somehow decided to stick with me after all these years.
Again, congratulations to the Class of 2015! Enjoy this moment. You deserve to celebrate before the hard work starts again.