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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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When you think about UVA, one
image comes to mind first.

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It's always the Lawn.

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It remains the one
place where you go back,

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and every single memory of the
university comes flooding back.

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It's this historic
place where people

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have lived, where they have
learned, where they have grown.

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It's a place where
everyone is welcome,

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where so much activity goes on.

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But on graduation day,
when you walk the Lawn,

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you're entering a whole
new chapter of your life.

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This is the culmination, the
accomplishment of four years.

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I think graduation puts
your years here in focus,

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to think about what you've
done, and to realize

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what it means for your future.

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It's loud, it's beautiful, and
just like it was yesterday.

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I still remember it.

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You walk in this mass.

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You're not in a straight line
to pomp and circumstances.

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It's a living,
breathing graduation.

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You get to be with the
people you want to be with.

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Who were those important
people during your time at UVA?

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For me, it was definitely my
friends, my sorority sisters.

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We made sure that
we started together,

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and that we ended together.

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When you are walking down
that Lawn, take it all in.

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Really engage with
that experience.

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See those smiles, be
aware of those joys,

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and even the freshly cut grass.

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Embrace all that.

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Take a moment.

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Take that extra picture.

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Capture some of those memories
to share with your loved ones

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in the future.

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Walking down the Lawn is
such a wonderful celebration

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of what you've been through.

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But it's also a celebration
of what you're going to,

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your next adventure.

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This isn't the end of
anything but a phase

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in your higher education.

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You have won the
honors of honor.

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You've been able to engage,
and grow, and become a leader.

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Do not put restrictions on what
you think you can accomplish.

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Your learning hasn't ended.

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Your UVA experience
hasn't ended.

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What you've done is you
walked off the Lawn,

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and you've walked
into the world.

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There's a community of UVA
alumni waiting for you.

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We are here.

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We are everywhere.

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Do not think that the only
people that you can count on

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are those who you've
engaged with already.

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You have thousands of us to
help you in every endeavor

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that you take on.

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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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You are forever
written into the spirit

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of the University of Virginia.

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Enjoy every moment of
that walk down the Lawn.

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And leave the world a
little better place,

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just like you left UVA a little
better place by going there.

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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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