Yurong "Luanna" Jiang Delivers the Graduate English Address | Harvard Commencement 2025

Summary

The speaker reflects on the interconnectedness of the world, sharing a humorous story of helping classmates from different countries, including Tanzania and Mongolia, figure out a washing machine. This leads into a deeper meditation on global unity, emphasizing shared humanity despite differences in culture, politics, or faith. The speaker highlights lessons learned at Harvard, stressing the importance of empathy, open-mindedness, and understanding, particularly in times of conflict and division. The message calls for unity, reminding the class of 2025 to hold onto each other’s humanity and work together toward a better future.

Takeaways

• 😀 The world is more connected than ever, demonstrated by a humorous story about a washing machine in Tanzania.
• 😀 Despite the growing interconnectedness, division and conflict are also on the rise globally.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on their experience at Harvard, where they connected with people from 32 different countries, learning about their diverse backgrounds and struggles.
• 😀 The notion of a 'small village' world was once a hopeful vision, where humanity's unity would end hunger and poverty.
• 😀 The speaker's program, International Development, is built on the idea that humanity rises and falls as one.
• 😀 Personal challenges from around the world, such as a woman unable to afford period pads or a child dying in war, directly affect all of us and make global issues feel personal.
• 😀 A shared humanity is central to overcoming global challenges, as all people, regardless of background, should be treated with empathy and understanding.
• 😀 In times of division, we must remember that people who think or act differently from us are not inherently evil, and we need to find their humanity.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of sitting with discomfort, listening deeply, and remaining open during difficult times.
• 😀 The key to moving forward as a global community is not proving others wrong, but rather refusing to let go of one another in spite of differences.
• 😀 The Class of 2025 is reminded that despite differing beliefs, cultures, and backgrounds, we are all connected by our shared humanity and must hold on to each other as we move forward.

Q & A

What was the unusual situation described in the beginning of the transcript?

The speaker describes an amusing situation where two classmates, from Tanzania, called them while they were in Mongolia. They were struggling to understand how to use their washing machine because the labels were in Chinese, and Google translated one of the buttons as 'spinning ghost mode'.

What was the message conveyed through the story of the washing machine?

The story humorously highlights the interconnectedness of people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. It shows how even in unexpected situations, such as a washing machine confusion, people from diverse places can find themselves relying on each other.

How does the speaker reflect on their childhood belief?

The speaker reflects on their childhood belief that the world was becoming a 'small village,' with the idea that humanity would soon overcome major issues like hunger and poverty, creating a more connected world.

How does the speaker’s experience at Harvard shape their perspective on global challenges?

The speaker's time at Harvard, where they met classmates from 32 different countries, deeply impacted their view on global challenges. It transformed abstract global issues into personal concerns, as they began to see the struggles of others as their own.

What specific global challenges does the speaker mention in the transcript?

The speaker mentions issues such as the inability of women to afford period pads, girls being unable to attend school due to fear of harassment, and the death of innocent children in wars they didn’t start or understand.

How does the speaker relate to the suffering of others?

The speaker expresses empathy by saying that the suffering of others, such as the death of a child in a war or a woman lacking access to basic hygiene, directly affects them. They feel personally connected to the pain and struggles of others around the world.

What shift does the speaker highlight regarding the global promise of a connected world?

The speaker observes that the initial promise of a connected world is now giving way to division, fear, and conflict. They note that people are increasingly viewing those with differing beliefs as not just wrong, but as evil.

What important lesson does the speaker say they learned at Harvard?

The speaker shares that the most valuable lesson they learned at Harvard wasn't academic, but rather the importance of sitting with discomfort, listening deeply, and staying soft in difficult situations, especially when facing conflict or differing views.

What does the speaker believe about those who are labeled as enemies?

The speaker emphasizes that even those labeled as enemies are still human beings. They believe that understanding their humanity is essential, as it helps us recognize our own shared humanity.

What is the final message the speaker conveys to the class of 2025?

The speaker’s final message to the class of 2025 is a call to embrace the diversity and shared humanity they have encountered. They encourage the graduates to hold on to one another, even amidst disagreement, as they are bound by something deeper than belief—a shared human connection.