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‘Dream Big Dreams’: JWU Providence Graduate Commencement

Andrea Feldman
10 May 2023

Life can be a surreal mix of careful planning upended by various curveballs. Profound lessons can be found in how we react to those surprising moments (be they welcome or unwelcome), and, in responding to them, sometimes our dreams get recalibrated. We grow. We change. And through it all, we persevere.

Courage was a resounding theme at last Saturday’s JWU Providence Graduate Commencement ceremony, echoing through the speeches of student speaker Meghan Marchetti '23 M.S., and that of the honorary degree recipient, the Honorable James Langevin '23 Hon. DBA, former U.S. Representative for the Rhode Island Second Congressional District. Both speakers called upon the new graduates to make a difference for others — the message is that kindness and moral courage are far more important than material accolades.

“I learned that with the right support, patience, and hard work, I could overcome almost any obstacle. In time, I began to dream new dreams.”

For Langevin, a stray bullet from an accidentally-discharged gun cut short his dreams of becoming a police officer. He was a freshman in high school — just 16 — and already in his 4th summer as a cadet. In the blink of an eye, his life was completely upended.

For a time, he struggled to make sense of his new reality. But he began to adapt. As he told the crowd at Amica Mutual Pavilion, “I learned that with the right support, patience, and hard work, I could overcome almost any obstacle. I came to understand what Hemingway meant when he said, ‘The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.’ In time, I began to dream new dreams.”

Buoyed by the support of his community, Langevin began to focus on a career in public service. In 1995, he became the nation’s youngest Secretary of State. In 2000, he became the first quadriplegic ever elected to Congress. (“I’ll stand up for you” was his campaign slogan.)

Langevin acknowledged that politics would not be everyone’s choice for a career. Our journeys will be unique. “One thing is certain — life will certainly offer you many challenges,” he said. “We all face them. No one gets through life without them. They come in different shapes and sizes, and they can appear at any time. Some are within your control, and others are not. But know this. Each of us, no matter the obstacles, has the capacity to overcome those challenges and persevere.”

Langevin asked students to be bold: “I hope you will all set big goals for yourselves and dream big dreams. And never, ever let anything get in your way.” He paused: “And most importantly, know that the entire Johnson and Wales community is behind you, cheering you on every step of the way.”

Graduate student speaker Meghan Marchetti began her career as a mental health worker within Rhode Island Hospital’s inpatient psychiatry department while enrolled in JWU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s degree program. At JWU, she also interned in private practice settings for outpatient and in-home therapy and in a residential therapeutic school.

“We are all future leaders, with sincere enthusiasm for our industries, innovative outlooks, and values that we carry at the core of our work.”

Like Langevin, Marchetti’s focus is on improving the lives of others — particularly their mental health. She had a clear message for her fellow graduates: “It’s easy to find ourselves doubting the magnitude of the impact we have on others. But my time here at Johnson & Wales, paired with my professional journey, has reassured me that our actions, big or small, don’t go unnoticed.”

That positive feedback loop can be found in professional settings — for example, the counseling patient who told Marchetti, “Thank you for making everybody feel like somebody.” But it’s also found in the JWU community, where multiple opportunities exist to bolster others. “I reflect on this message here today because YOU have left a mark on ME,” Marchetti said. “We are all future leaders, with sincere enthusiasm for our industries, innovative outlooks, and values that we carry at the core of our work.”

She ended with a collective appeal: “We have a powerful voice, and we can use it to serve others and to make each place we touch a little better. So, wherever the future takes you — identify your purpose and use your platform for good. Class of 2023, you embody the type of leadership that makes everybody feel like somebody.”

“Class of 2023, you embody the type of leadership that makes everybody feel like somebody.”

The ceremony concluded by acknowledging the dissertation work completed by doctoral candidates in Business Administration, Educational Leadership and Occupational Therapy, followed by the various master’s programs. And, of course, a collective roar of jubilation for completing such an educational milestone.