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Tom Hanks just delivered a moving and rather epic speech to the "chosen ones" – the graduating class of 2020.
The actor, who recently recovered from the coronavirus after contracting the novel virus while in Australia, gave a virtual commencement speech of hope to the Wright State University graduating class that is sure to inspire students all over the world who are either homeschooling or graduating, without a ceremony this year.
"Congratulations to you chosen ones," Tom started his speech. "And I am calling you the chosen ones because you have been chosen in many ways.
"First, by the temperament and discipline, you've lived by, by the creative fires that are inside of you and the instinctive lunges of your desires... You succeeded because of the aid and the love of others that are in your lives, without a doubt. But you have succeeded mostly because you, and you alone, chose to do so.
"You are the chosen ones because of a fate unimagined when you began your Wright State adventures," Hanks continued. "You started in the olden times, in a world back before the Great Pandemic of 2020. You will talk of those earlier years in your lives in just that way – 'Well, that was back before, Covid-19. That was before the great pandemic.' Part of your lives will forever be identified as before, in the same way other generations tell time like, 'Well that was before the war.' Or 'That was before the internet.' Or 'That was before Beyoncé.' The word "before" is going to carry great weight with you."
The 63-year-old went on to talk about how significant it was that the class was graduating amid "the great reset" and when they were expected to be more responsible than ever in making sacrifices that went on to save lives.
He concluded, speaking about their role "after" the pandemic: "You will be enlightened in ways your degree never held in promise. You will have made it through a time of great sacrifice and great need. No one will be more fresh to the task of restarting our normalcy than you – you chosen ones."
He continued: "You chosen ones are going to form the new structures, find the new realities and make the new world... And the future is always uncertain, but we, who celebrate all you have done, who celebrate all of your achievements, we are certain of one thing on this day – you will not let us down."
SEE HIS FULL SPEECH HERE:
Mr. @TomHanks has a special message for the Wright State University Class of 2020: https://t.co/2ciZnRWizs
— Wright State University (Dayton, OH) (@wrightstate) May 2, 2020
The actor is currently self-isolating at home with his wife, Rita Wilson, who also contracted the virus.
The A-list couple recently revealed that they donated their plasma which they hope will help find a vaccine for the virus, reports the Independent.
According to E! News, in an interview with NPR for their podcast, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, he joked that he hoped it would help to develop the "Hank-ccine".
ALSO READ: Tom Hanks donates typewriter to bullied boy named Corona: 'You've got a friend in me'
