everywhere. [applause] mark warner was the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony at george mason university in fairfax, virginia. the governor talked to the class of 2013 for 15 minutes. [applause] >> thank you. members of the board of visitors, mason faculty, staff, family, graduates, good morning.

let me be the first to say congratulations for a job well done. you are a proud recipient of the mason medal. congratulations to the class of 2013. you did it. [applause] i have watched this university grow for over 30 years. , when george mason became independent, it was a lot of questioning about what would happen with this little enclave in northern virginia. while there is a lot of success and a lot of people i want to recognize, to a vehement -- i want to recognize two of the original members who help make this possible. job well done, gentlemen. [applause]

had a opportunity while i was governor to work closely with president merton. i'm proud of the fact that 80 million of those dollars went to new construction right here at george mason, which means you have not only the fastest- growing university in virginia, but one with the best facilities. congratulations. [applause] you have bigo -- shoes to fill. you're a great start. he you're going to contribute -- continue that great tradition. 10 years ago, i had the opportunity to receive a george mason honorary degree. it is great to be back. i have learned giving speeches

that nobody ever remembers what you say. the only member if you talk too long. -- they only remember if you talk too long. i will be brief. before i -- i only have three points of advice. when i was hearing dr. cabrera celebrate those stories, getting a phd, i think about the diversity of those other students. the young man, that goldman, a graduate who works with me. one of the things that i look around these graduates and look at this crowd, this is to of diversity, and the changing face of virginia and america, is represented here in this audience. there is no better evidence that diversity makes us stronger. i hope you will allow me one

moment of comments. it is one more reason why in my day job we need to pass major immigration reform this year. [applause] nobody should have to dream about getting an education. they should be able to get that education, stay here and build those dreams in america. [applause] i do remember sitting where you sat quite a few years ago. i was the first and only member of my family to graduate from college. ofnew of the little worry what was next. i realize i was going to have an opportunity well beyond anything my parents ever had. you shareshould -- that promise, and you can realize those dreams.

you have been well prepared with a mason diploma. that degree brings with it responsibilities. i've got three pieces of free advice. lesson number one. your obligation should be with this degree to strive, to reach, but also don't be afraid to fail. , i heard the introduction have failed at virtually everything i've ever tried at one point in my life. quite honestly, i have probably learned more from failures than success. i founded a company called nextel. when i first started to be an entrepreneur, i took my life in ags, invested them company, and in six weeks, i hope that company go totally broke.

-- went intotate, real estate, to be six months to real estate. at the age of 27 euros old, with my student loans coming due, i was living out of my car, sleeping on friends couches, but i got a third chance. i got told about this new idea called cello for -- cellular telephones. my classmates were saying to me, go get a real job. he is going to one a car phone? they are still practicing law. [laughter] that means having started nextel, i'm the only speaker that you will ever have that says even when i'm speaking, leave your cell phones on. [applause]

, you hear theff annoying sound. i hear chaching. been a white guy with the right education, i might not have gotten that third shot. the one thing that we should make sure is possible in america is we can't guarantee you success, but everybody in america ought to be guaranteed a fair shot. that means the ability to fail as well. go out there and strive for that. [applause] lesson number two. beyond that responsibility to yourself, you also have a responsibility to your humanity and your country, and the world at large. you are graduating at a time when our nation's political and policy debates are pretty intense. your generation has a whole lot

at stake in these debates. $16.5a has rolled up -- trillion in debt. go tonight when you sleep, it goes up by $4 billion. you do not made -- you do not need to be a math major to know those are big numbers. in my day job, i am trying to work in washington to persuade my folks to occasionally take off their democrat had republican hats, and put our country first. [applause] guess what? if we do not get it fixed, you pick up the bill. that conversation is a lot more difficult in today's partisan environment. i have got to tell you, i

understand why so many americans have become cynical, distrustful, and alienated from our government. graduates, i urge you to do something that is going to be a little hard. anticipate in our nation's debate in a respectable manner. a nation that in often engages in way too much confrontation, and way too little conversation. it seems like we are better connected, but more divided. you canrkable thing is access more information on your smart phone than your parents are grandparents access in their whole life. in this age of iphones and ipads, it seems like sometimes it is harder and harder to look beyond the eye.

do not misunderstand me. disagreements and rigorous debate about big issues of the day and the challenges we face are healthy. debateld be able to these issues without questioning each other's motives or commitments to our country. , and i needlitics -- i mean no one, has a monopoly on virtue or patriotism, or the truth. if you do one thing for me, occasionally realize, turn off fox and msnbc. neither one tell you the whole truth. [applause] barack country to remain gray, you have to become informed citizens. higher folks that will put country folks -- hire folks that will put

country first. you hung in there. today, that investment is paying off. be ape that that will commitment you will bring not only to yourself to strive, to take risk, to be able to fail, but also be able to be involved in your community. i come to my third and last piece of advice. graduates, listen up. this is the most important one. call your mother. [applause] here are me -- hear me.

call whoever helped get you here, because you did not get here by yourself. [applause] after this is over, find that special person who helped you along the way, and tell them thank you, and tell them you love them. don't tweak it -- tweet it. don't post it on your facebook page. ein that person face to face and tell them thanks. your friend -- your family and friends are critically important to your life. [applause] that is it. as you reflect upon your last for -- four, five, or , noyears that he spent here

doubt you will carry extraordinary memories, a special friends. 2013, for class of all you have done, congratulations. go patriots. [applause] >> i begin with integrity because it is so essential to who and what you ultimately will become. many of you have a career path in mind. many of you have no idea where you will end up. a few may be surprised by where life takes you. i certainly was. in the end, it is not only what we do, but how we do it. >> i have to start with tweeting

this. i'm at her fashion operate this only take one second. and i woke up this morning, start writing my speech, i thought about my speech in september when i was a freshman. -- there was this all this excitement on campus. our first game was at wisconsin. we went out there and we lost our first game. there was crushing disappointment afterwards. i would like you to think of that expectation followed by crushing disappointment as a metaphor for your next 20 minutes with me. >> more stories and advice for graduates next weekend

>> next weekend, more stories and advice for graduates. with administration and state and local officials, including fbi director robert mueller and florida governor rick scott. saturday at 8:30, business leaders, including the ceo of twitter and apple cofounder steve wozniak. find more commencement speeches online at c-span.org. at the u.s. naval academy presidentnt friday, obama spoke out again sexual assaults in the military, saying they threatened the trust and discipline in the u.s. military. this is one hour. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by national captioning institute]