Commencement Speaker John Leguizamo Celebrates the Resilient Class of 2022
Dream “one size too big” and make every moment count. That was the advice—dispensed with passion and plenty of humor—from award-winning actor-writer-producer John Leguizamo P’23, S’90 to the 635 members of the class of 2022 at Vassar College’s 158th Commencement on Sunday, May 22. Addressing an audience of more than 2,000 under hazy, humid skies, Leguizamo said he had discovered his passion for entertaining more or less out of necessity, using humor to deflect conflict in the neighborhood where he grew up in Queens after his family had immigrated from Colombia.
“The neighborhood I grew up in was tough,” he told the graduates. “I got into a lot of fights. Well, correction: I mean I got beat up a lot. I realized pretty quickly that I was a magnet for beatings and that I needed a skillset to protect myself—and it worked. Being funny kept me safe from bullying.”
Leguizamo said performing became his passion, but he soon realized his ethnic background was preventing him from gaining immediate success in a white-dominated entertainment industry that he called “Hollywouldn’t.”
“I started writing my own one-man shows because I got tired of the Hollywouldn’t scam,” he said, noting that as time progresses, the work of performers from diverse cultures is gradually becoming more accepted. “It has always been a diverse world—it just wasn’t an inclusive one,” he said. “America was cheating itself out of very important resources: its minorities, its women, our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters, our disabled, and our youth.”
Leguizamo opened his remarks by praising the graduates for navigating their college careers during the COVID-19 pandemic. “You’ve been put to the test like no other graduating class, and you’ve made it with flying colors,” he said.
For some members of the class of ’22, the pandemic was still a very real challenge. Eight graduates who tested positive for COVID-19 and were under quarantine had to view the proceedings on a screen in Taylor Hall. Following the ceremonies, Vassar President Elizabeth Bradley personally delivered their diplomas to them.
Members of the graduating class celebrate their big day.
Classmates gather for the festivities.
Faculty members, including Professor Mia Mask, left, file in for the ceremony.
Members of the Board of Trustees pose with Vassar’s 2022 Commencement speaker, John Leguizamo.
Actor-director-writer-producer John Leguizamo delivers an impassioned, inspiring address.
President Bradley praised the class for its resilience.
Aena Khan, Senior Class Council President, reflected on the four years the class spent at Vassar.
Despite the hot weather, the audience overflowed.
AAVC President Stephen Hankins ’85, P’13,’17 welcomed graduates into the fold of the alumni association.
Anthony Friscia ’78, P’15, offered greetings from the Board of Trustees, which he chairs.
Williams Hoynes, Dean of the Faculty, paid tribute to retiring faculty members.
President Bradley conferred degrees upon more than 600 graduates.
A student is ecstatic upon receiving her diploma.
Students celebrate the conclusion of the ceremony with a long-awaited hat-toss.
Students bade goodbye to student life at Vassar.
View more photos from Commencement!
In her opening remarks at the Commencement ceremony, Bradley alluded to the struggles the class had faced. “It is so wonderful to be together on this momentous occasion to celebrate the accomplishments of these most fearless, most resilient students,” she said. “This class has endured through the worst pandemic in a century, which completely reshaped five of their eight semesters at Vassar.”
“We share some common experience as we sit together on this hill,” Bradley continued. “I suspect that the experience of living through COVID has made each of us and our collective more nervous, more suspicious, more insecure, more depressed, and more wary. Yet, our resilience has also made us proud, strong, more compassionate, humbler, more attentive to accessibility challenges, more aware that we are part of something bigger than ourselves and that our daily actions can profoundly influence others’ experiences, more grateful for the moments like this—when we can share common space in safety and health.”
After reciting a line from the poem “Praying” (“It doesn’t have to be the blue iris”), by Mary Oliver ’59, Bradley said Oliver’s words had reminded her to focus on gratitude and to be mindful of what is truly important. “So let us take a moment now, in the bustling moment of your commencement, to settle ourselves,” she said. “Look to your left and look to your right. Notice what is around you, in its exquisiteness. We will not be all together in this place again. This is a unique moment in time. May we be mindful of its enormity and thankful for the silence so that another voice may speak.”
Board of Trustees Chair Anthony J. Friscia ’78, P’15, noted that the College had been unable to hold a fully attended Commencement since 2019, but he reminded the graduates that Vassar has always been a family. “Many of the people you’re sitting with today will be there for you for the rest of your life,” Friscia said, “and many of you will connect with an older alum who will become a mentor, open a door, or give you needed advice when you need it most.”
Steve Hankins ’85, P’13,’17, President of the Alumnae/i Association of Vassar College (AAVC), echoed Friscia’s observation, noting that the College had more than 41,000 graduates ready and willing to connect with the class of ’22.
The graduates and their families embraced that message. “I'll miss this place. I’ll miss my friends the most, but I’ll keep in touch with the people that matter the most,” said Xan Wolstenholme-Britt. “I’ve met a great community here and I’m excited to take that with me.”
Khadeejah Abdul-Basser said she believed coping alongside her fellow students during the pandemic had helped her bond with classmates. “It’s really exciting to be able to celebrate the ending of these very difficult four years with a lot of different people that I’ve gotten closer to during COVID,” Abdul-Basser said. “I’m really excited that my family members are able to attend and that the weather is so beautiful.” She called her march to the podium to receive her diploma “a physical symbol of all of my hard work these four years.”
Pavlina Vagioni, of Queens, NY, said she was proud to watch her daughter, Faidra Tsakiri ’22, receive her Vassar diploma. “COVID made this a challenging experience for her at times,” Vagioni said, “but I am so happy she has completed this journey. Today was a life event we will remember forever.”
Prior to Commencement, there were a variety of festivities for 2022 seniors, including Senior Week activities and affinity-group celebrations. View a gallery of images.