Dean Bosworth, distinguished guests, faculty, fellow students and staff, good evening...
I would like to extend a heart felt welcome to class of 2005. For those of you coming from nearby as well as those of you who have left your families, cultures and all that’s familiar behind for the next two years…

Welcome to your new home.
I can hardly believe it was only a year ago that I too was sitting where you are today, overcome with excitement, nervousness and anticipation for this new chapter I had begun in my life.
Like myself, I am sure many of you overcame obstacles and adversities that eventually shaped your decision to choose Fletcher. And likewise, each of you will discover your place and your unique voice here.
I recall upon meeting my classmates I began to question whether or not the admissions department had made a mistake and accidentally sent an acceptance letter to me instead of the rejection letter they had actually intended to mail.
If any of you are having those thoughts, let me say, you are exactly where you deserve to be.
Though I haven’t personally met many of you as yet, if you are anything like the class which graduated in 2003 or the class of 2004, you are a group of highly intelligent, articulate, expressive, worldly, opinionated and incredibly diverse individuals. In other words, a perfect fit as the new members of the Fletcher family.
When I was first asked to speak before you today, I racked my brain trying to think of what I could possibly have to say that would last 8 to 10 minutes…
Some ideas which came to mind were;
A Prof. Perry rendition of "Baby Got Back" or
Some kind of dance routine to kill a minute or two…
I finally settled on telling you a little about your new family… Or as we’re known in International Circles, “THE FLETCHER MAFIA”.
My first experiences with my new family took place last year, after driving cross-country from Los Angeles to Boston with my mom…
Let me first preface what I’m about to tell you by saying I had several cups of espresso prior to this encounter…
When I first arrived at Blakeley dorm, I ran up the 3 flights of stairs, burst into my room, enthusiastically exclaiming, “I HAD ARRIVED!!!”
I was not at all put off by the quizzical expression of the French girl in the room inquiring just who the heck I was…
Thinking it was a “language issue” I SLOWLY explained to her that I was her new roommate.
She proceeded to inform me (in better English that I spoke I might add), that she knew who her roommate was and I definitely was not her!
Upon realizing my error that in my caffeine induced hyperactivity I had run into the wrong room, I then ran across the hall to see this frightened Korean woman staring through the crack in the door at me! That was my roommate...
This was my first lesson in East meets west… And in international diplomacy…
After we cleared up the confusion and I finally got her to let me into our room, things went more or less smoothly… And we laugh about it now...
The purpose of my sharing one of the many embarrassing moments of my life is to illustrate that we are a community that works through our differences and misunderstandings…
Though almost every country and culture on the globe is represented here, it is an environment, which embraces these differences and thrives on mutual respect.
You are members of a community with uncommon character and courage.
Many of you have read the statistics regarding the Fletcher community and student body…
Avg. age 27
38% are non-US citizens
52% are male
48% female
With 45 countries represented
I would like to take this opportunity to translate these numbers into human terms..……
Your peers include lawyers, diplomats, published authors, engineers, former Peace Corps Volunteers, conservationists, linguists, retired military officers, and entrepreneurs just to name a few…
You will meet among others:
A South Korean diplomat, one of only a handful of women in her country in that position
An environmentalist who is also a documentary film maker
A unassuming young woman who happens to fly black hawk helicopters
You will study with Captains, Colonels, Majors, United Nations Peace Keeping Volunteers
Former CNN reporters
Young people, juggling parenthood and a full course load
You will encounter some over achievers doing their joint Law degree, business degree or like a few of our less stable classmates who are currently working on their MALD and attending medical school full time.
Part of your student body includes a woman who had the courage to place herself between a young woman and a mob intent on stoning her to death
You will encounter a student who was orphaned at the age of 3 after the Khmer Rouge murdered his parents and nine siblings; who survived living on the streets of Cambodia and who was the first student ever to be asked to be the commencement speaker at his own college graduation
And I am sure you all have your own remarkable stories and unique contributions and gifts to share
You will also be learning from distinguished faculty and an incredible support staff
I know I have been blessed to be a part of this unique environment.
I am surrounded by people whose very presence challenges me to be the best that I can be...
They have sparked my curiosity and passion, yet at the same time, created an atmosphere of unconditional support and camaraderie.
I have seen many 'random acts of kindness' while I have been a part of this community;
From sharing notes with a classmate
To comforting someone through a stressful time in their lives
All this has been done with grace and humility.
With all the differences which has been noted about this community it is shocking to me, the harmony it has produced
In my prior experiences of living in large (so called) diverse cities, working in corporate America and in the development field, I have never encountered such a unique and supportive environment as the one here at Fletcher
If there is one piece of advice I could give you as the 'newest' additions to the Fletcher family, it is this:
Take the time, not only to study hard, but get to know the people here.
Take the time to have lunch with each other, have coffee, sit in the Hall of Flags and talk to each other
I know class work pressures can be overwhelming. But at the end of the day, it will be the relationships you have formed outside of the classroom and the people you meet during your time here that will have the most impact on the leaders you will become and the lives you will lead in the years ahead.
Thank you...