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On Friday in a virtual graduation ceremony hosted by Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak, celebrities congratulated the class of 2020.
Of course, with the global pandemic, many students were unable to attend their ceremonies. So on Friday, Facebook and Instagram hosted a livestream in which Oprah gave a commencement speech while Miley Cyrus performed The Climb.
Selena Gomez, Hugh Jackman, Cardi B, Lil Nas X, Simone Biles, Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Matthew McConaughey and more made appearances as well.
"Hello everyone," Oprah opened her speech. "I know you may not feel like it, but you are indeed the chosen class for such a time as this, the class of 2020. You're also a united class, the pandemic class, that has the entire world striving to graduate with you. Of course this is not the graduation ceremony you envisioned. You've been dreaming about that walk across the stage, your family and friends cheering you on: 'Whoop, whoop!' The caps flung joyously in the air.
"But even though there might not be pomp because of our circumstances, never has a graduating class been called to step into the future with more purpose and vision, passion and energy and hope. Your graduation ceremony is taking place with so many luminaries celebrating you on the world's Facebook stage, and I'm just honoured to join them and salute you."
The talk show host went on to talk about the class of 2020 taking the lead in creating a better future, especially considering the current circumstances we're in.
"As all the traditions affirm, the deepest self-care is at once caring for the human family, and we see this so clearly with essential workers. Look who turns out to be essential: teachers, your teachers, healthcare workers, of course. The people stocking grocery shelves, the cashiers, the truck drivers, food providers, those who are caring for your grandparents, those who clean the places where we work and shop and carry out our daily lives. We are all here because they, at great and profound risk, are still providing their essential service. What will your essential service be? What really matters to you?"
She concluded: "The fact that you're alive means you've been given a reprieve to think deeply about that question. How will you use what matters in service to yourself, your community and the world? For me, it's always been talking and sharing stories. For you? Well, that's for you to discover. And my hope is that you will harness your education, your creativity, and your valour, your voice, your vote, reflecting on all that you've witnessed and hungered for, all that you know to be true and use it to create more equity, more justice and more joy in the world. To be the class that commenced a new way forward, the class of 2020: Bravo, bravo, bravo, bravo."
WATCH THE FULL TWO-HOUR CEREMONY HERE:
