releases: https://stephaniemurphy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=941
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| https://stephaniemurphy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=941 | Rep. Stephanie Murphy Delivers UCF Commencement Address | 2018-12-14 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | FL | Stephanie Murphy | M001202 | stephaniemurphy.house.gov | legacy | U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphyof Winter Park, Fla. today delivered a commencement address at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Murphy, the first Vietnamese-American woman elected to Congress, spoke to students graduating from theCollege of Business Administration, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, and the College of Optics & Photonics. She discussed her personal journey and offered guidance to students as they prepare to begin the next phase of their lives.Murphy was introduced by UCF President Dale Whittaker and delivered her remarks to approximately 1,500 students, along with their friends and family. Congresswoman Murphy delivers a commencement address at UCF (Credit: UCF/Nicholas Leyva) Click here for high resolution photos At big moments like this, it's only natural to look both backward and forward,Murphy said to the graduating students. When you look back, I hope you feel a sense of pride that your hard work is paying off. I hope you also feel a sense a gratitude for the people in your life who have helped you. I hope you feel a sense of humility, rooted in your appreciation that you didn't get here on your own. Today is also a day to look forward and to prepare for the challenges on the horizon,Murphy added. When you face adversity in life, you'll need to put on your armor and prepare for battle, like the Knights that you are. Your weapons in this fight will be the same ones you have wielded up to this point. Your inner strength and your external support system. Your fortitude and your family and friends. Your backbone and the people who always have your back. Murphy urged students, whenever theyfaced personal or professional hardship, to draw strength from their character and their community: Your character has been shaped by your experiences, including your time here at UCF. It's your core values and principles. It's the code you try to live by, even if you sometimes fall short, as we all do. It's what you do when nobody is watching. At its best, character is grace and grit. Kindness and compassion. A sense of humility, a sense of humor, and a sense of justice. A deep appreciation for life, and how precious it is, but also how fragile. The capacity for hard work. A sense of patriotism, but not one that blinds you to the common humanity we share with citizens of other nations. The courage to try, and the courage to fail. The willingness to fall down, again and again, and the willpower to get up every time. In life, your best defense against darkness, doubt, and despair will be your sense of purpose, your character, and your community. They will give you the strength to charge on,Murphyconcluded. During her speech,Murphy referenced the university's successful football program. Life isn't easy. And it isn't always fair. I mean, how is it fair that UCF went undefeated for two seasons in a row, and still didn't make the college football playoffs?Murphy quipped.Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest. Murphy delivered her remarks at the first offour UCF Fall 2018 commencement ceremonies, taking place Dec. 14-15. Approximately 5,700 degrees will be conferred during these ceremonies. To view the full text of Murphy's remarks, click here. To view the video, click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |