 Hello President Schissel, Dean Solomon, faculty, staff, and the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School class of 2020. I am Omari Kills, and as a fellow graduate, it is my honor to deliver a few words to my peers on this celebratory occasion. When I was first asked to speak for the virtual graduation, I was excited to be part of this momentous occasion. I called my family and some friends, and it was my father in his true cut-to-the-chase form that asked me, well son, what are you going to talk about? What are you going to tell the people? I said, dad, I was just asked like an hour ago, and I have not given much thought to it, and it's not due until next week anyway. Well here it is, the day before it is due, and I'm still thinking about what to write. My day before the deadline writing is not a result of my Achilles heel better known as procrastination, but my writer's block was a result of not knowing what to say or what you, my fellow graduates, want to hear during these very interesting times. I was cautioned about contextualizing my speech within the current state of the world, but how could I not mention or think about something that has such an impact on this occasion and what this occasion signifies? Yes, graduation marks the end of our scholastic journey at Michigan, but it is also the beginning of the next stage of our lives, and we are starting the stage in a completely different world. And I would like and I would be lying if I did not say that trying to celebrate such an achievement as earning a doctorate from the University of Michigan without my friends, family, and the Michigan community is very much bittersweet. While the times ahead aren't searching and challenging, our graduating today is evidence that we are built and prepared for difficult times, and it is our strength that I want to focus on for the remainder of my brief speech. You see, earning a graduate degree from the University of Michigan is no easy feat, and honestly, if you can make it through graduate school at U of M, you can make it through anything. We have all been tested in ways that we did not even know were possible, and yet here we are on the other side having not only passed, but excelled. We all face uncertainty and doubt about what was to come during our time at Michigan. Whether it was not knowing if an experiment was going to produce significant results, how you were going to pay your bills during that long gap in pay between the end of summer and beginning of fall semester, if reviewer number two was going to finally accept your edits, or even the uncertainty many of us had about finishing our programs. Regardless of the root of the uncertainty, we found a way to tackle it, thrive, and most importantly, make it to this day. Some of us have experienced our graduate school process as a battle, or maybe even a war. Whether that battle or war was internal against outside forces or both, we remained steadfast and did not let those battles deter us from completing our ultimate goal. We indeed are Victor's valiant. We have bought blood, sweat, and tears to get in, stay, and finish our respective degree programs. And now we are part of a community, a highly educated group with associate privileges. I challenge all of us to use our privilege for the greater good of society. We are in a time where leadership is greatly needed and the world can benefit from our knowledge, scholarship, and humanity. So I encourage you, my fellow graduates, to continue to tap into your strengths during these difficult times, and go out and lead and be the best, and show the world that Michigan difference. Congratulations again, class of 2020, and go Blue.