Emily Ratajkowski delivers a speech at Hunter College. Image Source: People
Emily Ratajkowski delivers a speech at Hunter College.
Model, actress, activist, and author Emily Ratajkowski donned a purple cap and gown to deliver a powerful and inspiring commencement speech at Hunter College in New York City for the graduating class of 2023.
During her commencement speech, Emily Ratajkowski emphasized the importance of acknowledging one's worth and the value they have brought to the lives of those around them. The model also discussed her choice of dropping out of college to pursue a career as a model, stating that doing so implied giving up on one of her biggest dreams.
The actress began her speech by saying that she has discovered that it is very easy—far too easy—to float through days such as these without admiring them for what they are. Emily stated that today is a celebration and that she feels blessed and honored to stand in front of everybody today. She went on to say that she is also deeply touched because models do not give speeches at colleges and that, while they are considered in many ways, such as giant images of them covering buildings and individuals following them to learn more about them, models are not considered or honored by prestigious institutions and schools.
Emily Ratajkowski stated that she never graduated from college because she decided to drop out in the aftermath of the 2008 economic collapse and opted to pursue her career as a model in the hopes that it could provide her with the financial security she required over what she wished to do, which was to learn and make things. Emily admitted that she was afraid of being forced to deal with student loan debt and that she realized her window of opportunity was very limited.
Emily told the graduating class that everybody around her did remind her that women have an expiration date, so she dropped out of college and started to concentrate on work. Emily Ratajkowski did remind the students who listened carefully to her that it's crucial to recognize one's achievements, and that if an individual can't do it for themselves, they might well be able to do it for others, like a friend or family member who welcomed them after a long day's work, who listened to them whine and moan about their workload and schedule, and who motivated them through stress and hopelessness. She kept going and reminded the students to cheer and start celebrating for the loved ones who can recall when they first had the idea to pursue this degree and cheered them on when they thought they would never be able to do so.
According to the model, it is essential to respect those who unquestioningly love them and to appreciate and rejoice in their achievements with them because they are valuable. She also admitted that she finds it challenging to celebrate herself, not as an imposter in a body but instead as a soul deserving of joy, and she speculated that a few people who graduated may feel the same way. She added that she feels like she is always waiting for the other shoe to drop adding that life can make it hard or make one feel scared of being caught being vulnerable. The model noted that according to her own experience, as soon as one hurdle is crossed, another one just awaits and she has always decided to look for the other task rather than taking a moment and reflecting on what she has just completed. Emily finished with a heartfelt thank you for letting her be a part of [inaudible due to applause] and went ahead to congratulate the class of 2023.
Emily Ratajkowski told the class in a shorter video posted in the same carousel what she went through before she accepted herself to celebrate life, family, and success. She asserted that she had managed to miss out on joy, that joy is underestimated, that people pray for so many things before hoping for joy, and that individuals should pause and think about where they are and how far they have come.
Congratulations to the class of 2023!
