To the Class of 2025,
Congratulations! You made it! This week will be full of celebrations and ceremonies where all your hard work and accomplishments will be highlighted, and the degrees you have earned will be conferred. There will be the sound of Pomp and Circumstance playing throughout Littlejohn Coliseum, a sea of orange and purple to cheer you on, and photos – lots of photos, to commemorate this special moment in your life.
As you prepare to begin a new and exciting chapter as a Clemson Alum, I want to leave you with three final thoughts.
- You are amazing. Really – you are amazing! Never doubt that. Think of all the challenges and obstacles you overcame to make it to commencement this week. Think of all the exams you aced, or maybe you didn’t. But that taught you how to study and learn in a new way, and it taught you grit and resilience – skills you will need in the world. Think of all the friendships you’ve made, internships you’ve had, the research you’ve conducted, and the positive impact you have made here at Clemson and beyond. I am proud of all you have done as Clemson Tigers and all you will continue to do in the future – because you are amazing.
- The rule of 1%. This is one of the rules I try to follow in my life every day. Sometimes, things are in your control, and sometimes, things are out of your control. All you can do is focus on what you can control and try to improve a little every day – even if it’s just 1%. I want you to think back to move-in week and your first semester at Clemson. Maybe you were a little nervous or unsure, overwhelmed by all the choices and seemingly endless possibilities. And look at yourself now – confident, accomplished, ready to walk across the stage at Littlejohn Coliseum, where I will be waiting to shake your hand and congratulate you. You wouldn’t be at this finish line without having applied the rule of 1%.
- You will always be a Clemson Tiger. No matter where life takes you – you will always be a part of the Clemson Family. Remember that orange always looks great, even in professional business attire. There is nowhere else in the world that has more beautiful sunsets. Your Clemson Ring will be a conversation starter. And when you see someone with a Clemson Ring, even if you are halfway across the world, say hello. You’ll have a new friend for life because they also know what it means to be a Tiger. Your degree carries weight in the world. Saying that you earned a degree from Clemson University is significant. It matters. There’s nothing quite like 80,000 of your closest friends and family cheering on the Tigers in Memorial Stadium. And there will be nothing quite like turning your tassel and earning your degree this week as you enter your next phase of the Clemson Experience – graduating from being a student to becoming an Alum.
I am so incredibly proud of you. I can’t wait to see you at commencement. And I can’t wait to hear about all the outstanding things you will continue to do in the world and how you will continue to move Clemson Fiercely Forward. Because of you, the value of the Tiger Paw has never been higher, and I know the best is yet to come. Go Tigers!
Jim Clements
President