As Stanford’s Class of 2025 enters the next phases of their lives, they find themselves in search of good advice. And the Stanford community has a few more words of wisdom for the graduates as they embark on new adventures. Mentors were invited to answer the question, “What advice do you have for your younger self?”
“Ask yourself: What would you do if you could not fail?”
JAY HAMILTON, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
What a young person should remember?: 1) Do your job as well as you can. 2) Don’t think too much about yourself. 3) Keep your sense of humor.”
STEPHEN BREYER ’59, Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice
“Dreams don’t expire. You are never behind. You are moving at the speed of healing.”
MONA HICKS, Dean of Students
“Seek power as if your life depends on it, because it does. You can’t please everyone, so you’ve got to please yourself.”
JEFFREY PFEFFER, Graduate School of Business Professor
“Take your time and enjoy what you are doing — Don’t look too far ahead — Life goes by quickly — Enjoy every moment.”
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, Director of the Hoover Institution and Former Secretary of State
“In your next chapter, think of your career as an action verb. ‘Do’ things. Don’t ‘be’ things. Figure out what you want to do and then find jobs that allow you to do things!”
MICHAEL McFAUL, Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia
“To the Class of 2025, my advice to my younger self would be PRIORITIZE SELF CARE! Forget the rat race, eat right, get your sleep, WORK OUT, ‘pay yourself first’ (be on a budget so you aren’t stressed about money) HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS! And be a great ‘teammate’ – life is a team sport.”
TARA VANDERVEER, Former Women’s Basketball Coach
“Embrace the pivot when things go awry. Life revolves around serendipity. Don’t be planning every fork in the road. Be open to adventures.”
MICHELE BARRY, Senior Associate Dean of Global Health
