Every New Beginning is Some Beginning’s End: A Letter to Babson’s Class of 2023

Dear Graduates,

As we say farewell (it’s not goodbye!) to you, our beloved Class of 2023, I was reminded of the saying ‘Every new beginning is some beginning's end.’ Yes, graduation marks the end of one phase of your journey—the completion of this particular educational pursuit. It signifies the conclusion of years of study, growth, opportunities, and experiences within Babson. As such, it represents the end of a significant chapter in your life. But it is so much more than that.

As a prime example of the saying’s message, graduation also serves as a new beginning for each of you. It symbolizes the commencement of a new phase, as you transition from student to the next part of your journey—whether it be further education, entering the workforce, or pursuing an entrepreneurial path. Graduation is often seen as a stepping stone toward both new opportunities and new challenges, opening doors to an enormous range of possibilities and adventures. But while those doors may be opened for you, please remember that it is always up to you to take one step and then another to walk through them. That is what we have prepared you to do here at Babson with the valuable skills you have honed, the resources you have found, and the networking opportunities you have participated in.

Here are a few other tips I hope you’ll take with you:

Pursue your passion. We like to call it “your why,” and it should be at the foundation of all that you do. Keep it close to your thoughts … and your actions.

Don’t forget to plan. Sure, business (and life) will throw you curveballs, but when you’ve adequately planned for them, you will be prepared to pivot, as needed, and move forward more efficiently than others.

Build a support network. There are endless resources out there at your disposal—mentors, coaches, faculty advisors, professional organizations, networking groups—use them! These are people who not only have the knowledge you need but are also eager to provide it.

Commit to continuous learning. No one knows it all … at any stage of life. To truly be successful, you must commit to an unending quest to gather all the information you can for each new phase of your professional path.

Embrace networking. Always build relationships and foster connections. A strong network can open more opportunities while allowing you to serve others in countless ways.

Stay persistent and resilient. Business (and life) will inevitably knock you down. It is up to you to decide what to do next. Don’t stay on the ground. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, think about what you learned, and move on more confidently than before.

Accept challenges and ‘failures.’ This is where a wealth of knowledge is waiting to be discovered. Learn from the situation and then embrace what unfolds next because it has ended.?

Graduation serves as both an ending and a beginning, encapsulating the cyclical nature of life's transitions. So, when you hear the saying ‘Every new beginning is some beginning's end,’ remember your journey here with us and reflect on the bittersweet nature of this milestone. While it acknowledges the closure of a familiar and formative period, it also emphasizes the potential for growth, learning, and exciting new experiences that lie ahead in the next chapter of your life.?

Along your journey, you may not understand why something is ending at the time, but if you remember that it always means that something else will begin, you’re more apt to become excited for future possibilities, rather than reliving the past. If you take anything with you, take that, because the path of life is never straight. There will be twists and turns. There will be forks in the road. There will be seemingly insurmountable mountains ahead of you. But you will bend and flex. You will choose one path over another. And you will climb those mountains. Of that, we are sure! And you can be sure we’ll be behind you each step of the way.

Congratulations! I am so proud of each of you!

Sincerely,

Dr. Shakenna K. Williams