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Tuesday, 22 December, 2009 12:40 PM

Jeff Daniels encourages U-M graduates to be persistent in finding career jobs

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Jeff Daniels performs the song he wrote "The Michigan in Me" during the University of Michigan winter commencement ceremony inside Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Actor/playwright Jeff Daniels gave the commencement address at the University of Michigan's winter graduation ceremony inside Crisler Arena on Sunday afternoon. Daniels, who is also a musician, brought out his guitar to sing a song about Michigan during his speech. Honorary degrees were given to journalist Helen Thomas, civil rights activist Grace Lee Boggs, biologist theorist Edward Osborne Wilson and Daniels.

Many seats were empty on the main floor inside Crisler Arena during the graduation. All of the graduates from the U-M College of Law decided not to show up. However, it was still a great ceremony that graduates, their friends and families will remember forever. The winter commencement doesn't get as much attention because it is between the fall and winter semesters. More graduates will receive their degrees during the spring commencement in May.

Daniels was raised in Chelsea, Mich. He attended Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University for theatre and drama. He was invited to act at Second Stage Theatre in New York City. He starred in Ragtime (1981), Terms of Endearment (1983) and is known for his role in Dumb & Dumber (1994). Daniels founded Chelsea's Purple Rose Theatre in 1991. He was honored as part of the inaugural group of inductees in the Michigan Walk of Fame in 2006.

"It's a great honor to get a honorary doctorate from this fine, fine institution," Daniels said. "I grew up 15 miles from here and usually just spent Saturday nights in Ann Arbor. So I was sitting on the toilet in Dumb & Dumber and I'm debating about the end of my career. And I'm worried that what I'm about to do in this scene is going to do just that. Jim Carrey comes up to me and he says 'Hey Jeff, why so glum?' I said, wow, I can't believe I'm about to do this. What I'm doing is meaningless, it has no value. He said, 'By doing this scene, one day you'll be asked to give the commencement address at the University of Michigan.'"

Daniels said that although the University of Michigan is a fine institution, it doesn't matter where you got your degree. It's about how well you do your job in whatever career field you choose.

"I got news for you, the world doesn't give a damn where you went to college," he said. "I'm sorry but it doesn't. It's a wonderful achievement. This is a fine university. But you're going to find out tomorrow morning that the world doesn't care. But you can change that. You can make them care. And I ask you that whatever it is you do, decide to do something that is your life's work. That is your passion. That means something to you. This world is full of people who aren't doing that. Be one of those."

The actor/playwright/musician offered advice to graduates. "I used to be you, not here," Daniels said. "But I used to be you. I had talent. I had a gift. And I had a lot of people. All those people up in those seats who spent money on me. We've done all what we can do for you. It's up to you. You have to owe it to yourself to not waste what you've done with these four plus years. One day, you're going to be as old as I am, believe it or not. One day you're going to be as old as all of us, and you're going to be able to look back at your life. Trust me, you're going to want to do something and to be able to say what you did with your life mattered."

Halfway through his commencement address, Daniels grabbed his guitar and performed a song he wrote called "The Michigan in Me." The audience gave him a standing ovation for his performance.

"Congratulations to all of you who entered Crisler Arena today as students," said U-M President Mary Sue Coleman. "You will leave as alumni of the University of Michigan. One that has emphasized collaboration, creativity, and the value of thorough examining problems to develop solutions. You will make an impact on our world. We will miss you on campus, but we will benefit from what you do everyday because of the great work you are bound to accomplish. For today, goodbye; for tomorrow, good luck; and forever, go blue."

Oren Brandvain, a graduate of the college of literature, science and the arts, gave the student reflection. "When we walk across this stage, will we be transformed from young, ignorant adolescents to beautiful, intelligent adults?" he said. "I don't think so. We've all been to college. We all know life is more of a process than that. That's what this ceremony is for. It's to remind us of the greater context of graduation. Congratulations and good luck."

Vikrum Vora, a graduate of the college of literature, science and the arts, presented the remarks on behalf of the students. "Today, we students have a right to feel ecstatic," he said. "Be excited. Go a little crazy. We have good reason. In fact, the end of more than two decades of formal education in hands. While we have fulfilled our degree requirements, what is it we really learned? I think we're all wiser for having been here at Michigan. We must realize that this is an end of an era. We'll certainly be back with many greater challenges."

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Graduates are finding their seats shortly before the ceremony began.

PHOTO BY MIKE ISMAIR / ©AMERICAJR.com

The U-M winter commencement took place inside the Crisler Arena.

PHOTO BY MIKE ISMAIR / ©AMERICAJR.com