2015 graduates got some pretty sweet words of wisdom from their favorite celebs as they got ready to embark on the next stage of their lives.
Amy Robach
"Say what you mean and mean what you say," the Good Morning America host said to the University of Georgia's graduating class of 2015 at their commencement ceremony on May 8, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.
Kanye West
"George Bush… has some very cool self-portraits," West joked during his speech after accepting an honorary degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago on May 10.
Common
"The spirit that you all bring right now, I just want to say go out and change the world," the rapper said during his commencement speech at Winston-Salem State University on May 15, according to the Hollywood Reporter. "We all have got it in us. Go out and change the world."
Denzel Washington
The Oscar-winning actor offered four pieces of advice to the Dillard University class of 2015 at their graduation on May 9. "First: Put God first… second: Fail big… third: You will never see a U-Haul behind a hearse… and four: Say thank you in advance for what is already yours," he said, according to nola.com.
Ed Helms
"Rolling Stone tried to define you this year," Helms said to the University of Virginia’s Class of 2015 on May 15, in reference to the controversial magazine article that was later retracted. "As a result, not only was this community thrown deep into turmoil, but the incredibly important struggle to address sexual violence on campuses nationwide was suddenly more confusing than ever and needlessly set back."
Stephen Colbert
"It’s time to say goodbye to the person we've become, we've worked so hard to perfect, and to make some crucial decisions about who we're going to be. For me, I'll have to figure out how to do an hour-long show every night. And you, at some point, will have to sleep. I am told the Adderall wears off eventually. Good luck," said to Wake Forest University's class of 2015.
Robert Redford
"You're stepping into a world that's, well, pretty rough. It's pretty chaotic, pretty divisive. You've got climate change, you've got debt, you've got wars, you've got political paralysis. It's kind of a grim story… But the story, I think, can be retold, and I really believe that you're the ones to do it," Redford, who also received an honorary degree, said at the Colby College 194th commencement ceremony.
Maya Rudolph
"Look at all these beautiful faces… and iPhones," The SNL alum and Bridesmaids star said during her keynote address at Tulane University's 2015 commencement on May 16. "I thank you for having me here to join you on this special day in this incredible city. I stand here humbled, gracious and completely naked under this robe."
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi surprised the Rutgers-Camden class of 2015 with a performance of a song he wrote just for them. "Make the best of the rest of your days," he sang in the lyrics. "Start your own revolution and I'll see you at the reunion."
John Waters
"Go out in the world and f*** it up beautifully. Design clothes so hideous that they can’t be worn ironically. Horrify us with new ideas. Outrage outdated critics. Use technology for transgression, not lazy social living. Make me nervous!" Waters said duringhis commencement address at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Christopher Nolan
"In the great tradition of these speeches, generally someone says something along the lines of 'Chase your dreams,' but I don't want to tell you that because I don't believe that. I want you to chase your reality," Nolan said in the keynote address at Princeton University's Class Day on June 2.
Robert De Niro
"You're f***ed," De Niro (kinda) jokingly said to the graduates at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts commencement on May 22.
Matthew McConaughey
"The sooner we become less impressed with our life, our accomplishments, our career, the prospect in front of us, as soon as we become less impressed and more involved with these things, the sooner we get a whole lot better at doing them," McConaughey said during his speech at the University of Houston's commencement in May 2015.
Katie Couric
"A fulfilling professional life can be found at the intersection of what you love and what you’re good at. And when you think you’ve discovered it, go at it full throttle," Couric advised grads at The University of Wisconsin-Madison commencement speech in May.
Kenneth Cole
"Find your voice," the designer said during his keynote speech at his alma mater, Emory College, on the school's Class Day, according to Time magazine.
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