A Ceremony Like No Other

After an academic year marked by COVID-19 testing, mask-wearing, remote classes, Zoom meetings, and two semesters divided into four terms, 570 members of the evergreen class of 2021 graduated from Wellesley College on the morning of June 4.

Fittingly, the commencement ceremony was like no other—a hybrid celebration with many seniors on campus and others attending via Zoom. Commencement speaker and Massachusetts State Rep. Liz Miranda ’02 shared stories from her life and her experience as a Wellesley student in the hopes that the seniors might see themselves. “I share to express a radical belief I hold. You don’t have to be perfect to do great things, but you do have to speak your own truth as a catalyst in the change you wish to see in the world around you,” she said. “Even if your life’s challenges are different from mine, remember that all of us have moments in life where our backs are against the wall.”

Watch the above video to see the celebration.