哈佛大學校長Drew Faust畢業典禮致辭

哈佛大學Drew Faust：最好的教育即培養精神習慣

Faust於Memorial Church向身着方帽長袍的畢業生髮表了一年一度的畢業班告別講話。一年一度的畢業儀式在畢業典禮之前舉行，包括祈禱、唱詩及校長為畢業班進行的告別演講。

“牢記正是通藝教育為各位應對變革做好了準備，”Faust説。“更新我們的承諾並重新規劃人生的機會是一項僅供少數幾代人擁有的特權。而現時它不是一種可能，而是一種必要。”

這一幾乎與哈佛大學同樣古老的儀式可以追溯到1642年。當年的舉行的第一次儀式使哈佛的工作人員及神職人員有機會在更安格按照流程進行的畢業典禮之前向畢業生髮表講話。

這一儀式由基督教道德Plummer 講席教授及Memorial Church蒲塞牧師Rev. Peter J. Gomes主持，主要以儒學、伊斯蘭教、印度教、猶太教及基督教讀物為特色。

Faust的講話是儀式的中心亮點。

她稱哈佛大學強調通藝教育正是為了這樣的危機時刻設計的。

“我們一直堅持最好的教育即培養精神習慣，一種分析的精神、一種評判及探究的能力，這能使你們勝任於任何環境或者選擇任何職業方向，”Faust説。“這一理念怎能比現在這一時刻更為適合?”

Faust號召畢業生勇往直前應對挑戰，指出儘管我們不喜歡不確定性，但是不確定的時代為個人成長及職業生涯成長都提供了機會。她引用了作家Joan Didion的話將應對生活形容為“嚴苛與安逸、束縛與自由、理智及直覺充滿魔力的交匯處。”她也引用爵士音樂大師Charlie Parker的話，“掌控你的樂器、掌控音樂，之後忘情演奏。”

Faust指出，不確定性和應對對於要求準確性的領域如物理學和藥學也是十分重要的。而在人文領域，應對是基於結構和研究的自然產生的表達。

Faust以回憶她的在1968年的畢業典禮作為演講的結束。20世紀60年代末和70年代初的學生畢業於社會巨大變革成為可能性的時代。她指出，曾經失去許諾現今已經迴歸，並號召畢業生抓住屬於他們的機遇。

“繼續掌控你的樂器。繼續掌控你的音樂。”Faust説。“不時回到學校讓我們知道你進展如何。我相信在完成這項任務上沒有任何一羣人能比你們更值得我信任。”

Faust delivered the annual Baccalaureate Address Tuesday afternoon in the Memorial Church to cap-and-gown-clad graduating seniors. The Baccalaureate Service is an annual pre-Commencement rite, consisting of prayers, hymns, and the president’s farewell address to the graduating class.

“Remember that improvising in the face of change is exactly what your liberal arts education has prepared you to do,” Faust said. “The opportunity to renew our commitments and remap our lives is a privilege given only to some generations. And this time it’s not just a possibility, it’s a necessity.”

Almost as old as Harvard itself, the service dates back to the first Commencement in 1642, and gives Harvard officials and clergy a chance to address the senior class before the more scripted events of Commencement itself on Thursday.

The service, conducted by the Rev. Peter J. Gomes, the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church, featured readings from Confucius, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity.

Faust’s address was the service’s centerpiece.

She said that Harvard’s emphasis on a liberal education is designed for times such as these.

“We have insisted that the best education is the one that cultivates habits of mind, an analytic spirit, a capacity to judge and question that will equip you to adapt to any circumstance or take any vocational direction,” Faust said. “When did such principles better suit circumstances than now?”

Faust urged graduating seniors to follow their hearts and improvise, saying that though we dislike uncertainty, uncertain times provide opportunity for both personal and professional growth. Citing writer Joan Didion, Faust defined an improvised life as “that magical crossroads of rigor and ease, structure and freedom, reason and intuition.” She also cited jazz great Charlie Parker, who said, “Master your instrument, master the music, and then forget all that … and just play.”

Uncertainty and improvisation are important even in fields known for precision, such as physics and medicine, Faust said. And in the arts, improvisation is a spontaneous expression based on structure and research.

Faust ended her speech with reflections on her own commencement, in 1968. Students in the late 1960s and early 1970s graduated at a time when dramatic social change seemed possible. That promise was lost, but has returned today, Faust said, urging graduates to seize their opportunity.

“Keep mastering your instruments. Keep mastering the music,” Faust said. “And come back from time to time and let us know of your progress. There is no group to whom I would rather entrust this task.”