Congratulations!
June 16, 2020 - Congratulations Class of 2020! Whether you are graduating from high school, college, or just beginning a new chapter in your life, these books, movies, and podcasts will inspire and motivate you during your next stage.
Books
Gmorning, gnight! (2018) by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Before he inspired the world with Hamilton and was catapulted to international fame, Lin-Manuel Miranda was inspiring his Twitter followers with words of encouragement at the beginning and end of each day.
In Conclusion, Don’t Worry About It (2018) by Lauren Graham
In this expansion of the 2017 commencement speech she gave at Langley High, Lauren Graham, reflects on growing up, pursuing your dreams, and living in the here and now.
The Opposite of Loneliness (2014) by Marina Keegan
Marina Keegan's star was on the rise when she graduated magna cum laude from Yale in May 2012. Tragically, five days after graduation, Marina died in a car crash. Marina left behind a rich, deeply expansive trove of writing that, like her title essay, captures the hope, uncertainty, and possibility of her generation
What Color is Your Parachute? For Teens (2015) by Richard N. Bolles
This career guide for teens helps high school and college students zero in on their favorite skills and find their perfect major or career.
Movies
Booksmart (2019)
An unfiltered comedy about high school best friends and the bonds they create that last a lifetime. Capturing the spirit of the times, it is a coming-of-age story for a new generation.
Ghost World (2002)
Two recent high school graduates wreak havoc on all who cross their path, until an oddball loner looking for Miss Right comes into their lives. These social misfits learn the hard way that life after high school gets even weirder than they thought it would.
Lady Bird (2017)
A high school senior from the "wrong side of the tracks" longs for adventure, sophistication, and opportunity, but finds none of that in her Sacramento Catholic high school.
Say Anything (1989)
A noble underachiever and a beautiful valedictorian fall in love the summer before she goes off to college.
Podcasts
Career Talk: Learn, Grow, Thrive
Host Stephanie Dennis is on a mission to empower people to take control of their careers by offering holistic career advice.
Happier with Gretchen Rubin, “Very Special Episode with Great Advice for Graduates”
Very Special Episode: “For Graduates—what’s the best advice you ever got, the worst advice you ever got, the advice you always give, or the advice you wish you’d gotten yourself?”
How I Built This with Guy Raz
Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.
Relatable, inspiring, and a little bit gritty, host and award-winning Certified Financial Planner Shannah Compton Game helps listeners uncover their money story to see past the numbers to unlock the lives they want to live.
Organizational psychologist Adam Grant takes you inside the minds of some of the world’s most unusual professionals to explore the science of making work not suck.
Commencement Speeches
Conan O’Brien (2011), Dartmouth College
Oprah Winfrey (2013), Harvard University
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2015), Wellesley College
Barack Obama (2016), Howard University
Leah Burch, Library Associate
June 16, 2021
