this fall semester I fell in love with
35-millimeter black-and-white film
photography so for those of you who
don’t know film photography is quite the
process there are three main steps so
the first is taking your photographs
the second is developing the film and
the third is enlarging your images now
taking a photo onto film photography
camera is a little different than taking
one on your phone you can’t just point
and click
you have to manually address with the
lighting and you’ll notice there’s no
big flashy screen on the back of the
camera so you don’t get the instant
feedback that you would with a digital
camera often you don’t actually get to
see the photos until after you’ve
developed the film now developing the
film is a process within itself half of
which is done the complete darkness and
the other half involves a series of
chemicals in a particular order all
maintaining a certain temperature if you
manage to complete all that correctly
you get a product that looks like this
this is what we call a black and white
film negative what’s white on this film
is black in real life and what’s black
on the film is white in real life now a
lot of times you don’t develop the film
until days weeks or even months after
you’ve taken the photographs which means
you don’t get to see your photographs
until days weeks or even months after
you’ve taken them seeing your photos for
the first time comes with this super
exciting moment even though you’re
seeing them on these small not very
detailed pieces of black and white film
and often viewing your photos can come
with a bit of surprise some good and
some not so much like that picture I
thought I took my friend coming down the
waterslide it was just a picture of her
in the water or without one image that I
thought perfectly captured the sunset I
didn’t address for the lighting
correctly and the whole thing is black
and this feeling stinks because a lot of
times you’ve been waiting to see these
photos and you know that they are
moments that you will not be getting
back but every once in a while you get a
surprise that makes it all worth it a
surprise like this
so this is a photo I took of my parents
and I love this photo now I didn’t
curate this picture I didn’t tell my
parents to simultaneously fix their
glasses with mirroring hands to be
honest I don’t even really remember
taking it it’s likely I was just
checking for lighting before taking a
more standard smiling photo throughout
the semester my starting few semester I
was faced with situations like this time
and time again I was taking pictures
that I loved but that were taken
accidentally but I was still putting
them on the wall and I was still putting
them in my final portfolio eventually I
was forced to answer the question how
can I take credit for these images that
I did not intentionally and mindfully
take and the more I thought about it the
more I realized that this question
applied not only to film photography but
many other aspects of my life as well
more generally I was asking myself how
can I take ownership of the chance that
occurs in my life how can I be proud of
the things I’ve done when my success is
somewhat based on luck whether it would
choose to acknowledge it or not chance
plays a great role in all of our lives
some good and some not so much I find it
easiest remark on chance in terms of
college acceptance I’m sure like a lot
of you sitting out there today
I worked extremely hard to build my
resume going into college sports captain
student council peer counselor tour
guide coach volunteer all that on top of
AP and advanced courses I did everything
and anything that would help me get into
a high academic school and it worked I
got into a really great school that I
love and I’m super proud to attempt but
I recognized that there were certain
things that were outside my control that
contributed to my success I’m not
talking about big tangible obvious
things I’m talking about the way in
which my parents never fought how there
was always a quiet place in my home for
me to do my homework
or how my only health-related absence
from school was for my yearly physical
these things might seem minor but these
were circumstances that I was afforded
and others were not and for all I know
where I stand today is built on infinite
similar instances of good luck so yes I
worked hard in every aspect of my high
school career but I was fortunate that
in many cases it was made easy for me to
work hard I’ve thought about this idea a
lot
how luck may be responsible for the
things that I’m most proud of in my life
because it contradicted the way I
thought about myself as an individual
who works hard for what she has finally
I came up with a solution that seemed to
put me at ease be thankful for
everything you are proud of by being
thankful I’m constantly reminding myself
that although my achievements aren’t
completely my own doing I can still take
pride in the hard work I’ve put in I
believe the moment you stop being
thankful for what you’ve achieved is the
moment you become entitled we can all
probably think of someone who just got a
new job or maybe a new degree or some
award at school and therefore thinks
they should be treated differently well
the truth is hard work put in does not
equate success achieved
that’s why personally although I worked
my butt off in high school I will never
say I deserve to be at my college
by using the word deserve I’m neglecting
all the uncontrollables that made my
success possible by using the word
deserve I’m saying my counterpart who
were just as hard as me in high school
deserves to go into the workforce upon
graduation because her family needs help
making ends meet a lot of hard working
people are uncomfortable admitting that
chance of something to do with where
they are today I’ve had this exact
conversation with some of my classmates
and I think they’ve gone a little
annoyed with me as some of you may be
now they say Sam you have no idea where
I came from
you are absolutely downplaying the
amount of work I put in I absolutely
deserve to be at this school to which I
respond I believe you I wholeheartedly
and completely believe you did
everything within your power to be where
you are today
I’m not belittling anyone’s hard work
nor am i advocating to sit back and let
life run its course I’m saying quite the
opposite really be proud of your
achievements just don’t forget to be
grateful for them now this second part
being thankful for your accomplishments
may be easier said than done I would
start by thanking the people that
clearly facilitated your success thank
your mom thank your dad
thank your teachers and your coaches
your co-workers and your mentors and
anyone else who has helped along the way
and don’t forget to thank your little
siblings and friends that have always
stuck by your side and if you want you
can even send a quick thank-you note to
the admissions officers of your college
thanking them for the opportunity to
attend but it might be hard to thank
everyone who played a role in who you
are today actually as previously
mentioned there may be some luck related
factors that contribute to your success
in which there is no one to thank for
who do you thank for your health who do
you think for the family you were born
into instead show your gratitude actions
speak louder than words show your
appreciation for your good fortune by
taking advantage of each and every
opportunity that comes your way now this
idea of making the most of every
opportunity is probably something you’ve
all heard before it’s the backbone of
the American Dream the methodology
behind the rags to riches story
regardless of your beginnings through
hard work and determination you can
achieve whatever you set your mind to
but why does this mindset only seem to
be associated with with the less
fortunate with those who have less
whether you are given one lucky break in
your whole life or continuous chances to
succeed we should all feel a certain
amount of pressure to make the most of
the hand we’ve been dealt it’s no secret
that some of us will be given a head
start in this world not because we asked
for it not because we earned it
just because we got lucky so if this
advantage is just a matter of chance
then why would it alter the way we view
opportunity
at a basketball tournament in the summer
before eighth grade a teammate on my
team expressed to us her teammates if I
make it to play Division one basketball
I don’t have a story she was a 510
middle school girl who belonged to an
upper-class family that supported her
dreams it was able to afford all the
sports needs such as travel club teams
coaches and camps she recognized that
unlike some of her peers she would not
face the hardship and adversity and
working towards her goal of being
college basketball player and this made
her feel as though her current
achievements and any future achievements
as a basketball player were meaningless
as if they were served to her on a
silver platter that girl went on to play
Division one basketball at a very high
level and I hope she’s proud of herself
because she worked hard and she
controlled everything that she could
control her being born into a household
that was able to provide for her dreams
was just some as much a matter of chance
as her being born into a situation less
fortunate she responded to the
opportunity she was given by recognizing
her good luck and capitalizing on it her
gratitude and humbleness were made
obvious through her actions I think it’s
all of our responsibility to be like her
and make the most of what we’ve been
given however much or little that may be
regardless of where you started be proud
of your achievements and hard work thus
far in other words hang those accidental
photographs on the wall but when you
walk by them reflect on your good
fortune and take the time to show your
gratitude we are all luckier than we
could ever imagine thank you [Applause]
35-millimeter black-and-white film
photography so for those of you who
don’t know film photography is quite the
process there are three main steps so
the first is taking your photographs
the second is developing the film and
the third is enlarging your images now
taking a photo onto film photography
camera is a little different than taking
one on your phone you can’t just point
and click
you have to manually address with the
lighting and you’ll notice there’s no
big flashy screen on the back of the
camera so you don’t get the instant
feedback that you would with a digital
camera often you don’t actually get to
see the photos until after you’ve
developed the film now developing the
film is a process within itself half of
which is done the complete darkness and
the other half involves a series of
chemicals in a particular order all
maintaining a certain temperature if you
manage to complete all that correctly
you get a product that looks like this
this is what we call a black and white
film negative what’s white on this film
is black in real life and what’s black
on the film is white in real life now a
lot of times you don’t develop the film
until days weeks or even months after
you’ve taken the photographs which means
you don’t get to see your photographs
until days weeks or even months after
you’ve taken them seeing your photos for
the first time comes with this super
exciting moment even though you’re
seeing them on these small not very
detailed pieces of black and white film
and often viewing your photos can come
with a bit of surprise some good and
some not so much like that picture I
thought I took my friend coming down the
waterslide it was just a picture of her
in the water or without one image that I
thought perfectly captured the sunset I
didn’t address for the lighting
correctly and the whole thing is black
and this feeling stinks because a lot of
times you’ve been waiting to see these
photos and you know that they are
moments that you will not be getting
back but every once in a while you get a
surprise that makes it all worth it a
surprise like this
so this is a photo I took of my parents
and I love this photo now I didn’t
curate this picture I didn’t tell my
parents to simultaneously fix their
glasses with mirroring hands to be
honest I don’t even really remember
taking it it’s likely I was just
checking for lighting before taking a
more standard smiling photo throughout
the semester my starting few semester I
was faced with situations like this time
and time again I was taking pictures
that I loved but that were taken
accidentally but I was still putting
them on the wall and I was still putting
them in my final portfolio eventually I
was forced to answer the question how
can I take credit for these images that
I did not intentionally and mindfully
take and the more I thought about it the
more I realized that this question
applied not only to film photography but
many other aspects of my life as well
more generally I was asking myself how
can I take ownership of the chance that
occurs in my life how can I be proud of
the things I’ve done when my success is
somewhat based on luck whether it would
choose to acknowledge it or not chance
plays a great role in all of our lives
some good and some not so much I find it
easiest remark on chance in terms of
college acceptance I’m sure like a lot
of you sitting out there today
I worked extremely hard to build my
resume going into college sports captain
student council peer counselor tour
guide coach volunteer all that on top of
AP and advanced courses I did everything
and anything that would help me get into
a high academic school and it worked I
got into a really great school that I
love and I’m super proud to attempt but
I recognized that there were certain
things that were outside my control that
contributed to my success I’m not
talking about big tangible obvious
things I’m talking about the way in
which my parents never fought how there
was always a quiet place in my home for
me to do my homework
or how my only health-related absence
from school was for my yearly physical
these things might seem minor but these
were circumstances that I was afforded
and others were not and for all I know
where I stand today is built on infinite
similar instances of good luck so yes I
worked hard in every aspect of my high
school career but I was fortunate that
in many cases it was made easy for me to
work hard I’ve thought about this idea a
lot
how luck may be responsible for the
things that I’m most proud of in my life
because it contradicted the way I
thought about myself as an individual
who works hard for what she has finally
I came up with a solution that seemed to
put me at ease be thankful for
everything you are proud of by being
thankful I’m constantly reminding myself
that although my achievements aren’t
completely my own doing I can still take
pride in the hard work I’ve put in I
believe the moment you stop being
thankful for what you’ve achieved is the
moment you become entitled we can all
probably think of someone who just got a
new job or maybe a new degree or some
award at school and therefore thinks
they should be treated differently well
the truth is hard work put in does not
equate success achieved
that’s why personally although I worked
my butt off in high school I will never
say I deserve to be at my college
by using the word deserve I’m neglecting
all the uncontrollables that made my
success possible by using the word
deserve I’m saying my counterpart who
were just as hard as me in high school
deserves to go into the workforce upon
graduation because her family needs help
making ends meet a lot of hard working
people are uncomfortable admitting that
chance of something to do with where
they are today I’ve had this exact
conversation with some of my classmates
and I think they’ve gone a little
annoyed with me as some of you may be
now they say Sam you have no idea where
I came from
you are absolutely downplaying the
amount of work I put in I absolutely
deserve to be at this school to which I
respond I believe you I wholeheartedly
and completely believe you did
everything within your power to be where
you are today
I’m not belittling anyone’s hard work
nor am i advocating to sit back and let
life run its course I’m saying quite the
opposite really be proud of your
achievements just don’t forget to be
grateful for them now this second part
being thankful for your accomplishments
may be easier said than done I would
start by thanking the people that
clearly facilitated your success thank
your mom thank your dad
thank your teachers and your coaches
your co-workers and your mentors and
anyone else who has helped along the way
and don’t forget to thank your little
siblings and friends that have always
stuck by your side and if you want you
can even send a quick thank-you note to
the admissions officers of your college
thanking them for the opportunity to
attend but it might be hard to thank
everyone who played a role in who you
are today actually as previously
mentioned there may be some luck related
factors that contribute to your success
in which there is no one to thank for
who do you thank for your health who do
you think for the family you were born
into instead show your gratitude actions
speak louder than words show your
appreciation for your good fortune by
taking advantage of each and every
opportunity that comes your way now this
idea of making the most of every
opportunity is probably something you’ve
all heard before it’s the backbone of
the American Dream the methodology
behind the rags to riches story
regardless of your beginnings through
hard work and determination you can
achieve whatever you set your mind to
but why does this mindset only seem to
be associated with with the less
fortunate with those who have less
whether you are given one lucky break in
your whole life or continuous chances to
succeed we should all feel a certain
amount of pressure to make the most of
the hand we’ve been dealt it’s no secret
that some of us will be given a head
start in this world not because we asked
for it not because we earned it
just because we got lucky so if this
advantage is just a matter of chance
then why would it alter the way we view
opportunity
at a basketball tournament in the summer
before eighth grade a teammate on my
team expressed to us her teammates if I
make it to play Division one basketball
I don’t have a story she was a 510
middle school girl who belonged to an
upper-class family that supported her
dreams it was able to afford all the
sports needs such as travel club teams
coaches and camps she recognized that
unlike some of her peers she would not
face the hardship and adversity and
working towards her goal of being
college basketball player and this made
her feel as though her current
achievements and any future achievements
as a basketball player were meaningless
as if they were served to her on a
silver platter that girl went on to play
Division one basketball at a very high
level and I hope she’s proud of herself
because she worked hard and she
controlled everything that she could
control her being born into a household
that was able to provide for her dreams
was just some as much a matter of chance
as her being born into a situation less
fortunate she responded to the
opportunity she was given by recognizing
her good luck and capitalizing on it her
gratitude and humbleness were made
obvious through her actions I think it’s
all of our responsibility to be like her
and make the most of what we’ve been
given however much or little that may be
regardless of where you started be proud
of your achievements and hard work thus
far in other words hang those accidental
photographs on the wall but when you
walk by them reflect on your good
fortune and take the time to show your
gratitude we are all luckier than we
could ever imagine thank you [Applause]
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