Spring 2025 Convocation Address

Greetings Everyone,

It’s such a joy to be here with you. 

To the family, friends, faculty, and staff, whether you’re with us today or cheering from afar, thank you for the care and encouragement you’ve given our graduates along the way. This moment belongs to them, but it’s shared with all of you. 

And to the Class of 2025: my warmest congratulations. Today is yours! You’ve reached an extraordinary milestone, and I’m filled with admiration. Not just for what you’ve achieved, but for the thoughtful, resilient and engaged people you’ve become along the way. 

To complete your degree during a time of ongoing change and uncertainty is no small thing.  The world is shifting in complex ways, and while that brings challenges, it also creates space for fresh ideas, deeper insight and meaningful change.  I believe all of you are ready to meet that moment. You have the brilliance, creativity, empathy and perspective to help shape what comes next. That’s why your decision to study in the arts and social sciences is so meaningful. You’ve spent time asking important questions, exploring what it means to be human and thinking critically about culture, identity, justice, wellness and community.  You haven’t just finished a program, you’ve developed a way of seeing the world that’s thoughtful, open and engaged.  And that will serve you well wherever your path leads: in your career, your communities and your relationships. 

While this is a day of celebration, it’s also a moment of reflection.  And so, I’d like to spend a few minutes with you thinking about something that often shapes us quietly but meaningfully: friendship. 

At university, friendship is more than just a comfort. It’s part of how we learn, how we test ideas, broaden our views and experience the world through someone else’s eyes. It reminds us that learning is not only intellectual, but also relational. To be clear, I don’t mean the kind of friendship measured in likes or follows. I mean the kind that takes time, the kind that’s rooted in trust, shaped by mutual understanding and strengthened by care and curiosity. 

As a developmental psychologist, I’ve spent much of my career studying friendship: from asking children what makes someone a “best friend” to exploring how vital these relationships become in adulthood. When we’re young, a friend might be someone who likes the same things as you, who plays with you, who’s fun to be around….maybe even someone who cheers for the same sports team or listens to the same kind of music. But as we get older, our understanding of the concept becomes a bit more profound. A friend is someone who shows up, who listens without judgment and who helps you find your footing when you’ve lost your way. A friend might come from a totally different background or be someone in your own family. What matters most is that you feel supported, seen, and safe to be yourself around them. 

Sometimes, friendship takes on an even greater role. 

One of our graduates today is Cihan Erdal, graduating with a PhD in Sociology. In 2020, while visiting family in Turkey, Cihan was arrested and detained under false accusations of inciting political unrest. He spent over 260 days in prison and remained unable to return to Canada to complete his PhD for over a year. One thing that stands out about that time is not just what Cihan endured, which was a tremendously unjust and difficult experience, but the incredible response from his community. His partner, his friends, and supporters from Carleton, his Department, and beyond never stopped working for his release. They wrote letters, spoke out, shared his story and made it clear he was not forgotten. When news came that Cihan was finally free and returning to complete his PhD work, it was a moment of profound relief and joy. It showed what friendship and solidarity can look like when people come together, not out of obligation, but out of love and conviction. 

After his release, Cihan shared these words on social media: 

That belief, in one another, in the strength of community, is one of the most meaningful things we can carry with us. 

Over your time at Carleton, I know you’ve formed friendships that mattered. People who helped you through long nights and tight deadlines, who celebrated your wins, and who stood by you when things got hard. These relationships are part of your success, and I hope you carry them with you, even as your lives move in new directions. And I hope you keep making space for new ones. Be open. Reach out. Let friendship keep shaping your path. 

There’s a quote from Helen Keller that I often come back to: 

Friendship isn’t just about joy, it’s about presence. It’s about showing up when it would be easier not to. It’s about learning how to listen, how to disagree with care and how to support someone without needing anything in return. These aren’t small things. These are the tools we need to build a more connected, more humane world. 

So, as you step into new and exciting careers, communities and dreams, please hold your friends close. Seek out new ones. Be the kind of friend you’d want in your corner. And never underestimate the power of friendship to change a life, or to shape a better future. 

Let me end by thanking you, truly, for choosing Carleton’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Your energy, insight and presence have made this Faculty stronger. You’ve left your mark here, and we are so proud of who you are and all you’re becoming. 

Congratulations, Class of 2025. May the road ahead be full of meaning, momentum and connection. 

Thank you.