https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AubTVFiqOm8
Madam Director General of ORT Uruguay, deans, representatives of partner institutions, members of our university, Friends of ORT, dear graduates, and your families.
We are so happy to share this special day with you. You may think that your final exam is over now that you are here today, but the reality is that we never stop being tested. We are evaluated by our employers, our clients, our families, and constantly, by our own conscience. Accepting that we are always being evaluated leads us to accept that we are not infallible and that our knowledge is never complete. It leads us to accept our doubts as part of our humanity and not as weaknesses. We must remember that there is no discovery without doubt and that there is no new knowledge without discovery.
A college education is a life-changing experience. Our mission as a university is to support you throughout that transformative process. We hope we have succeeded. We hope we were there to support you when you needed us, that we helped build your self-confidence, and that we encouraged you in your life goals.
ORT Uruguay recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. We have changed a great deal over the course of our history, but our mission and spirit remain unchanged.
Our mission is to support our country’s development through education. ORT Uruguay is a story of imagination and perseverance. It is a story of constant reinvention, a story of leadership free from prejudice and fear.
Today, I would like to thank our President, our Vice President, our deans, and our academic teams for their commitment and their unwavering faith in our ability to create opportunities for Uruguayans.
When we first began offering higher education, there were no private universities; the IT industry was in its infancy in our country, and exporting software was unthinkable. Management was not taught at the university level. There were no degree programs in Design, Video Games, or Biotechnology. Entrepreneurship was an unknown concept in our country. We are proud of what we have accomplished over these 75 years, and on behalf of the university, I tell you today that we are committed to continuing to do our utmost to provide the best possible education to our beloved country.
As you know, ORT is a Jewish institution open to everyone. Many cultures and religions have contributed to our civilization, each in its own way and to the best of its ability. One of Judaism’s most important contributions is its conception of education. The primacy of education and its universal nature were radical concepts in ancient times, since most peoples at that time viewed education as a privilege of the elites.
Like all societies, Jewish society had a hierarchical structure. The king was above the high priest, the high priest above the prophet, the prophet above the ordinary priest, and the ordinary priest above the common Jew. But what is interesting is that, according to the Talmud, an educator stands above all other categories, even above the king, since if the king is absent, anyone can replace him, but if a sage is absent, his knowledge is irreplaceable.
Dear graduates, graduation symbolizes the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Today marks the start of your journey into the unknown. Leaving is always easier than arriving. Leaving high school, leaving college, leaving adolescence—bringing those chapters to a close is emotionally clear. We know they must end, and we know what comes next.
But as they embark on their professional lives—a milestone marked by their graduation—they are asking themselves what the next step is, where they want to go, what they are willing to do to get there, and, most importantly: why do they want to go where they want to go? Do they long for professional success? Material wealth? A creative life? A career in public service? All these questions create uncertainty.
The future won’t turn out the way you plan it; it never does. But neither does it have to be dictated by forces beyond your control. Don’t leave your destiny in the hands of others—not leaders, nor organizations. Take charge of your own future. Your destiny depends largely on you: on your attitudes, your abilities, your effort, and your determination. Do not fear your ambitions. Do not condemn the successes of others if they are achieved in good faith. A society without outstanding individuals cannot progress.
Find your path with humility. There should be no vanity in knowledge, but neither should there be pride in ignorance. Find your own path, but do not lose sight of the fact that you are members of a society. Remember that a society is stronger when it supports the weakest. A society is richer when it supports the poorest, and a society is invulnerable when it protects the most vulnerable.
Seek the power of ideas rather than the idea of power. Draw inspiration from ideas rather than ideologies. Individuals are masters of ideas, but often slaves to ideologies. Be demanding of yourselves, because that is a prerequisite for being able to demand more from others. Always be open to change; your ability to adapt will be more important than your knowledge. Choose big challenges that force you to grow. Do not fear mistakes. There is no risk without error, but there is no progress without risk. Listen to the ideas of those who think differently. In the world of social media, everyone feels compelled to voice an opinion but very few to listen. Extreme opinions dominate the conversation. This dynamic replaces dialogue with echo chambers where we receive no new ideas, only confirmations. But without new ideas, there is no learning.
Dear graduates, a new world awaits you—a world of opportunities built on knowledge and creativity. In this new world, there are no distant or nearby countries; there are no small or large countries. There are only intelligent countries and ignorant countries. In this new world, wealth is created through intelligence and education. The threats in this new world are not free trade or robots; the threat is ignorance. Progress in the knowledge society does not require speeches; it requires study. It does not require class struggle; it requires attending classes. It does not require armies, but rather high schools and universities. And in this new world, you will have to learn to learn continuously, as knowledge will become increasingly fleeting.
Dear graduates, thank you for placing your trust in us. Thank you for allowing us to grow alongside you. Uruguay may not be a large country, but it is a great country, and you have both the opportunity and the responsibility to make it even greater. Uruguay needs you. Succeed from Uruguay and help your country succeed. Forge your own path, but know that ORT will always be your home.
Thank you very much.