Words of Wisdom from Class Days of Yore

With the recent announcement that Soledad M. O'Brien '88-'00 is slated to take the stage at Class Day this year, we at the Flyby thought we'd seize this opportunity to reflect upon some words of wisdom from previous Class Day speakers.

Here are some salient snippets of their stirring speeches. Added bonus: watching these will help you procrastinate on that paper, guaranteed.

2011: Amy Poehler

"Continue to share your heart with people even if it's been broken. Don't treat your heart like an action figure wrapped in plastic and never used. And don't try to give me that nerd argument that your heart is a batman with a limited edition silver battering and therefore if it stays in its original package it increases in value. Watch it, Harvard, you're not better than me."

Attention nerds: the time has come to unwrap your hearts and tuck them into your pocket protectors (for easy access).

2007: William Jefferson Clinton

"This is a really fascinating time to be a college senior. I was looking at all of you, wishing I could start over again and thinking I'd let you be president if you let me be 21."

You mean trade youth for the single most wrinkle-inducing job in the country? Let us get back to you on that.

2006: Seth MacFarlane

"…Others will be doing missionary work in Africa. But remember, some of you, that Wall Street is still an option. Don't rule it out, because it is a noble profession. Goldman Sachs needs people too."

Again, before you heed this speaker's advice, be warned: this is a job for people who want wrinkles and dark circles.

2004: Sacha Baron Cohen ("Ali G")

"I iz also well clever—me was so brainy dat me finished me education 6 years before any of u—at de age of 15—even da teachers admitted dat dere was nothing else dat dem could teach me."

True dat, bro.

2000: Conan C. O'Brien '85

"Everyone out there is going to hate you. Never tell anyone in a roadside diner that you went to Harvard. In those situations, the correct response to, 'Where did you go to school?' is 'School? I never had much in the way of book learnin' and such.' And then get in your BMW and get the hell out of there. Go."

Peel that bumper sticker off your ride, box up your sweatshirts from the Coop, and save your Harvard umbrella for a really, really rainy day.