>> i begin with integrity because it is so essential to who and what you will become. any of you have a career path in mind, many of you have no idea where you will and up. a few of you may be surprised by a where life takes you. i certainly was. and in the end it is not only what we do but how we do it. start by tweeting this. give me a second. i am a professional. when i wake up this morning and started writing my speech i was thinking about -- [laughter] infirst month on campus september when i was a freshman and the football team went into the season number one in the nation. there was all this, i remember when i would die here, there was all this excitement on campus. our first game was at wisconsin and we went up there and we

lost our first game, 20 1-14. there was a crushing disappointment afterward. i would like you to think about followed bytion disappointment as a metaphor for your next 20 minutes with me. advice forries and graduates, friday night at 8:00 with administration and state and local officials including rick scott and saturday, business leaders including the costello and apple cofounder steve wozniak. and find more speeches online at c-span.org. next, some of the 2013 commencement speeches from around the country. senator elizabeth warman -- warren at framingham, and mark warner at george mason university. senator elizabeth warren delivered the commencement address at framingham state

university in minnesota -- massachusetts. her remarks are about 15 minutes. [applause] >> thank you. thank you. thank you. thank you very much, thank you senator for that very kind introduction. thank you, president flanigan, board of trustees, the , andngham board congratulations to the class of 2013. fabulous. [applause] , from one state school grad to another, you have done a good thing. you can do a lot more. i'm really happy for you. i want to say to the class of 2013, as you are are going out into the new world, as with any

journey, it can be scary. with edith.htime no more ice cream from mad willy's. and hardest of all, no more e- mails from the dean. [laughter] it is true. , as you head out, i know that some of you are very worried about graduating into a tough economy. some of you are concerned about finding a job. and some of you are working hard to persuade yourself that moving in with mom and dad is almost as good as having your own apartment. i know it is hard out there. what i have high hopes for everyone of you. i mean that. . every single one of you. i have high hopes because even at this time of transition, and in this part economy, you have ,lready done -- hard economy

you have already done stuffing top. you have graduated. hoorah/.- hoorah. , a good smart decision education is the foundation for a better future. people do graduate or more resilient financially and they weather economic downturns better than people that don't graduate. likelywho graduate are to be more economically secure, likely to be healthier and live longer. puts a lot inee your corner and in just a few minutes you will have one. so, whatever comes your way, you have the right start. and you have that right start by planning carefully and working hard toward a specific goal. in fact, you got here today by following the advice of about a

cabdrivers,hers, bartenders, and everyone else who told you to set a goal and stick with it. but on this beautiful day, this last day before we turn you loose into the world, i want to make a pitch for something else. among all of the goal setting and the perseverance, i want to talk with you about something different. i want to talk with you about being open to the unexpected. about making room for the improbable and the unlikely. am here.ow why i it is not my fashion sense or my ability to telling a joke, i was invited here today because i'm your senator. what does that mean? for some of you it means i'm the person they cap to sending you e-mails asking for money. sending you e-

mails asking for money. it means i am the person standing between you and some more gatorade. [laughter] i am thes of you, person you are wondering, will she finish in time for me to hit the bruins game? [cheers and applause] and the answer is, maybe. listen closely. so, in any case, i am here today because i am your senator. but the funny thing is, i never planned to get into politics. if you don't believe me, try to find a political consultant anywhere in the country who will tell you that the best way to get elected to office is to become a professor and pick fights with ceos of banks. nope. wholety much that my career as a teacher. and after i graduated from a

mute or college, which cost $50 commuterr, -- a college, which cost 50 dollars a semester, i taught elementary school. i thought i had my life planned. two years and one baby later, i decided to go to law school, thinking i could be a trial lawyer. i thought i had my life planned. three years and another baby and another move later, i became a law professor. teaching bankruptcy and writing books about the economic issues facing middle-class families and i was sure i had my life all planned. and then one day i got a phone call. it was in the 1990s. i had been teaching law 15 years. it is a former congressman who has just been appointed to head up a commission to rewrite the bankruptcy laws. he wanted to be able to give help to families in terrible financial trouble.

he thought i could come to washington and help him. i thought he was crazy. i had a job. i was sure about what my job was. my job was to teach classes and do research and write books. i did not know anything about washington politics. frankly, i did not want to. and then he offered me a deal. he said if i come up with a few good ideas, ideas that would help families, he would figure out the politics and turn them into law. i could standk the politics but he pushed and i decided to try. for me, this first the trip ended up being about fighting for families that were getting squeezed out of the middle- class class. and taking on an army of lobbyists working for big banks. it was about the optimism that if we work hard and work together, we can make a difference that matters. as it turned out, i had the honor of fighting along senator

kennedy and others trying to protect families that were hanging on by their fingernails. one fight to lead to another, bringing accountability to the bank bailout, setting out a section bureau and now representing the people of massachusetts. so here is where i see this, the congressman made an improbable offer. he brought me into a fight that changed my life. it has been tough but all in all, it made me a believer in the incredible power of trying the unexpected. 2013, all of the planning and although the the preparation the world can't prepare you for the many twists that are coming your way. you mighttoday, it need the guy you will marry or the guy you will divorce. [laughter] maybe both. you can't predict it all.

people will tell you to plan things as best you can. they will tell you to focus. they will tell you to follow your dreams and they will be right. but they will also be a little bit wrong. never be so faithful to your plan, that you are unwilling to consider the unexpected. never be so unfaithful to your that you are unwilling to entertain improbable opportunities that come looking for you. and never be so faithful to your plan that when you hit a bump in the road, or when it hits you, you don't have the fortitude, the grace, and the resiliency to rethink, and regroup. openness to the improbable, the ability to get out of your comfort zone and we work a plan, consider something new, this is part of the american spirit that has made our country great. , 400 yearsm here ago, puritans and pilgrims

landed on the shore of a land they knew nothing about. they had left everything they knew, by the way, with no , or e- to call, text mail anyone they left behind. and they sat across a giant ocean to start something different. surely nobody -- spent a career planning that trip. a generation of people who had been born as colonists, who had lived as subjects of the most powerful empire decided they were going to get rid of the monarchy and create a democracy, a form of government that had really been seen on this earth since the ancient world. unexpected, you bet. successhe time their

was deeply improbable. but they did it anyway. it wasp in mind, and not one of the elder statesman of the 19th century that freed the slaves and won the civil war. it was a newcomer, a country lawyer best known for debates that occurred during his senate campaign he lost. who wonot a diplomat the first nobel peace prize. it was teddy roosevelt who had been well known for wanting to take america in the war and lead the charge. but to left himself open to making peace. and it was not one of the dynastic families whose favorite son ended world war rome an -- world war ii. nope, it was an ordinary fellow from missouri who came home and opened a haberdashery. i do not think anyone in this country particular plan or he would go.

these are the stories we know from our political history. but our country is filled with stories of the unexpected. ruth wakefield, class of 1924. she ran out of chocolate one day and improvised with roque and pieces of a chocolate bar and invented the chocolate chip cookie. people like o'neill who after tornadoes in massachusetts in 2011 created recovers. board to help communities with disaster herecovers.org to help become -- communities with disaster recovery. and ended up a hero with a friendship forged in the heat of tragedy. throughout our history, we have seen people abandon their well when anted plans, opportunity opened up or a challenge to 10.

-- hit them. this has been a driver of our success, the willingness to take risks, innovate, adapt when our plans do not work out as we expected. so to all of you that have always known exactly what you wanted to do when you grow up, go get them. good for you. thefor everyone else, people with plans, the people with no plans, keep space in your heart for the improbable. i promise you won't regret it. 2013.tulations, class of [applause]

>> congressman bill flores gave the commencement address at texas a&m university in college station. the former oil executive came back to his alma mater to talk to the class of 2013. his speech is about 30 minutes. [applause] >> howdy. nice you for that introduction and thank you for inviting me to join you at this commencement. i wife and i are thrilled to be here. i would also like to exercise one of the privileges that comes with finger speaker this evening. that is to give a shout out to my relatives in the audience. joining me is my mother, her husband, and my sister in law. i have a few more shout outs to offer in a few minutes. isthe way, this commencement being recorded by c-span.

so if you think today is a great day to be a texas aggie, please let our c-span audience know. yes. be a texasat day to aggie. here are a few of the reasons. we are home to more than 50,000 students, the sixth largest university in the country. we have more than 360,000 former students worldwide. the extended family. we have a coveted membership in the association of american universities. one of only 61 universities with this distinction. we conduct research, valued at more than $705 million annually. 20rent ranking among the top universities nationally and third behind mit and the university of california at berkeley for universities without medical schools. we have an endowment valued at

$5 billion, ranking fourth among u.s. public universities and 10th overall. our true, we claimed national team championships and nine conference titles last season, both of which were school best. we are the home to johnny 20 12 heisman trophy winner. we are recognized as original and the current home of the 12th man, where students dance during football game to show support for the team. wherest giddens sta -- tand during the football game to show support for the team. few venues are more hostile than the maroon cow field where the eardrums are under constant assault from the band. the nation's best drill student body. cadet is recognized among

the largest uniform student bodies at more than 2300 strong. --consistently concession commission more officers than any other school in the country outside of the military academies. in keeping with our land grant roots, we are one of the universities with the population of underrepresented groups. in keeping with the military roots, we were ranked as one of the most veteran-friendly colleges in the country. we have more than 800 student clubs and organizations. it is inculcated into our individual and group values. here's something interesting, we are recognized as having the most facebook fans of any university in the country. of public service, texas a&m is privileged to have many of its own in elected office, including an aggie governor. we have many members of the

texas house and senate and four members of the united states congress. we also have hundreds more serving at all levels of local, state, and federal government. but most important, as you will graduate almost 7200 graduates, the most of any class ever. you are the folks that will change the world and i am proud to call each of you a fellow aggies sister or brother. today is truly a great day to be a texas aggie. let's start with a q&a. i want you to answer by either raising your hand to the following. how many of you are the first generation in your family to receive a college education? of you are the first aggie in your family? that is awesome. how many of you have jobs?

that is impressive in this world. how many of you are confident in your future? how many of you are worried about your future? i did not see any hands go up. how many of you are graduating in less than four years? was not cricket. how many of your graduate and in more than four years? how many of your graduating in more than five years? i think we will stop there. for the parents and family members in the audience, how many of you are happy about seeing your son or daughter or spouse graduate? when i served as chairman of the board of our association of former students, through my campaign and servicing congress, i have given 200 speeches to over 150,000 people. why do i bring this up? i am saying this because even

though i should be an experienced speaker, i consider be oneeech tonight to of the most difficult i have ever had to write and deliver. why do i feel this way? a number of reasons. first there are four persons that changed my life. theofessor of accounting, founder and director of msc, the former vice president of student affairs, and and dr. wendy graham, professor of economics. and i think of them, i am "minded of the words soldiers, statement, or knightly gentleman." they try to mold me to model those words and they had a profound impact on me. so i wonder, what would they say if they were speaking to you tonight instead of me?

is in ther son audience today. he graduates on saturday. what should i say that will help him remember this graduation beyond having the degree placed in his hand? 37 years and one day ago, 1976, i graduated from this institution. it happened across the street. and the speaker for the a general, then the chief of staff of the united states army. to repeat he want me from the address he delivered that day? and what should i say that will that mayittle seed stick with you and that might germinate to help you become the best you can be and that will make you the aggie that other aggies aspire to follow? were to restart? why am i here?

-- where do we start? why am i here? here is what i hope we can share this evening. i want to congratulate you for your accomplishments and for the degrees you are about to receive. bitnt to tell you a little about the world in which you're about to enter. i want to share some reflections with you that i hope will be meaningful for your future. the future that will start at the point your degree is waste in your hand. placed in your hand. congratulations to each of you upon completing your education. you have accomplished a significant milestone. education is a building block to becoming a productive part of our american society. and your education is one of the events where real-life change happens happens, for you, your family and community and for our country.

a groupu join representing 36% of our population at 12 obtained a post high school degree. that will obtain a post high school degree. for most of you that is what you will need for your career. the rest of your education will come from on-the-job training or from mike itself. your efforts -- from like itself. of theforts, the giving community, the support of your families, and the commitments of &m have prepared you well for this point of time. will each of you join me in a big round of applause for our graduate? [applause] while i want to congratulate all of you, i have some special recognitions at this time.

class are sixhis aggies that have worked for me for my campaign. heath,ames are nichole madison fox, haley barnett, landis. and john thanks to each of you for your help to me and congratulations. [applause] each of you has had your own particular challenges as you have gone through your education that you had to deal with. i received a letter from a graduate. in the letter she shared her challenges and accomplishments and i want to share that letter with you tonight. am a 38-ressman, i year-old african-american woman who grew up in the deep south. soon i will be a first- generation college graduate. my mother spent her entire childhood on government

assistance and she did not even finish high school. she did, however, received a ged. fortunately, past is not always prologue. through hard work as a single parent, she kept her children clothed, fed, and secure. such that we might have the opportunity to use our own sweat and tears to shape our futures. employment full-time to a half years ago to finish my bachelors degree, i have maintained a 4.0 gpa. and i will be starting a phd program this fall, having received a graduate research fellowship. i am the american dream. god bless. this story is the perfect example of a life change from higher education. thank you for your letter and congratulations to you. [applause]

third and most important, our son will graduate this weekend. final, thereby completing his course work, he made a post on social media that hashtag "that took way too long." i think it describes the situation. , his graduating with a gpa that was higher than mine, and whether it took four years or a few more, he he still has that degree and his mom and i are very proud of him. your mom and i want to say congratulations. we are proud of you and we love you. [applause] while it is important to congratulate all of you, it is

also important to wrecking you recognize those who helped you get to this point. i would ask that all of the graduates stand. come on. there you go. lees give your family members a big round of applause for all of the support they made. [applause] now, now, please give faculty and staff a round of applause for the commitments they have made toward your education. [applause] please remain standing. for those of you in the audience that are active military, veterans were first responders, including law enforcement, cleese stand also. ok. -- please stand also. ok.

selfless service of the group of eight just stood, we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms and security we have in this great country. i would ask everyone to stand and think this group. thank you for your service to america. [applause] everybody please be seated. are entering a troubled time in the history of the world and in the history of our nation. we are besieged by threats to national security and to our economic security. some countries in the european union are close to economic meltdown and nobody knows what will happen if they fail. even our own country has seen its national debt soared to -- to just under $17 trillion. exceeds ourere it

national output. the federal government has made another $100 trillion of financial promises in the form of social security, medicare, and other programs. these links and are aware loaded every seven americans is either unemployed or underemployed. you're entering an economy where you are competing not only against your peers in this room across the nation, but your peers around the world. the competition for jobs in this economy has never been tougher. that is the bad news. the good news is that you guys are well-prepared to to take on these challenges. for 137 years, texas a&m has been educating, mentoring, and molding the best and the