To inspire the next generation of innovators, leaders, creators, and highly intelligent spawns of the academe, Harvard University, one of the most renowned institutions in the world, is tapping a dropout to headline its commencement speech this year.
The Harvard Dropout Returns
This is, however, unlike any dropout Harvard has come to know. It's Mark Zuckerberg, who famously dropped out of the university and went on to create Facebook, the world's largest social media platform at present. These accounts were even made into a David Fincher film some years ago.
On Tuesday, March 7, Harvard confirmed Zuckerberg's commencement address gig to occur on May 25 as part of the Afternoon Program of the university's 366th commencement.
"Mark Zuckerberg's leadership has profoundly altered the nature of social engagement worldwide ... [F]ew individuals can rival Mark Zuckerberg in his drive to change our world through the innovative use of technology, as well as his commitment to advance science, enhance education, and expand opportunity through the pursuit of philanthropy," said Drew Faust, Harvard's president.
Asking Bill Gates For Advice
Most, if not all commencement speeches are toned-down, straightforward affairs, though it seems Harvard is opting for something with a little more zing. It has released a video showing Zuckerberg sharing a couch with Bill Gates, who needs no introduction, with the former asking the latter for some advice.
"They know we didn't actually graduate, right?" Zuckerberg tells Gates, who spoke at Harvard's commencement in 2007.
Sadly, Zuckerberg's acting skills hasn't significantly improved since his Saturday Night Live stint in which he parodied himself, alongside Jesse Eisenberg, who portrayed Zuckerberg in The Social Network. But no matter, the important thing is everything has come full circle. A Harvard dropout will stand before those about to graduate.
Of course, to say Zuckerberg "is just a dropout" truncates his series of achievements, many of which have helped set the terms of technological, social, and media-related discourse. Facebook still stands as one of the biggest things in online media, unlike other platforms who have slowly lost steam, such as MySpace and the now-defunct Friendster.
Zuckerberg enrolled at Harvard in 2002, coming out Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, as noted by The Boston Globe. On his second year, Zuckerberg created thefacebook.com with a group of friends. It started as an exclusive online platform for Harvard students to interact, although it quickly grew into something more significant.
Zuckerberg on Tuesday wrote "Finally heading back to school" on his Facebook timeline. At 32, he is the sixth richest person in the world, with a $44.6 billion net worth, according to Forbes.
Zuckerberg isn't the only formidable tech figure speaking at a Boston-area college this year. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, is set to deliver the commencement address at MIT in June.
Zuckerberg joins other notable personalities who have also landed commencement gigs at Harvard. This list includes Steven Spielberg, Deval Patrick, Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, Fareed Zakaria, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, J.K. Rowling, and more.
Do you think Harvard graduates will "like" Zuckerberg's commencement address?
