Woodruff Delivers Heartfelt, Encouraging Commencement Speech
On June 8, commencement speaker and one of ABC’s top news correspondents, Bob Woodruff, C’79, spoke of Cranbrook, its continuing impact on his life and how graduating seniors need to seek the truth and speak it out because they are this country’s future.
Woodruff connected with the audience of young men telling them that when he was in their shoes he did not know what life had in store for him.
“There are very few things you can predict in this life but so far you have the best education in the world,” said Woodruff. “Life will just keep changing. The studying will never end.”
For Woodruff, the studying continued after Cranbrook at Colgate University for three years before transferring to U-M Law School. After practicing law in New York, he took his legal expertise overseas to Beijing where he taught others his profession. Eventually, teaching would lead to a significant career change for Woodruff who went from lawyer to journalist.
Woodruff explained that he lived in 10 different cities covering wars all around the world and ultimately landed the role of ABC Nightly News anchor. He never could have predicted what happened next. Just 27 days on the job as an anchor, he was reporting from the war in Iraq when a bomb struck his vehicle. He suffered a traumatic brain injury but battled back to a full recovery in only 13 months.
Woodruff acknowledged that the support and love he received from his family and friends fueled his determination to heal. He noted that two of the yearbook quotes he chose as a Cranbrook senior closely describe the life experiences he has encountered to this day.
“It’s almost odd that the ones I put in the yearbook back then … address so much that I’ve been through now. I still believe them... In so many ways, I would have copied these again today.”
He quoted Henry Thoreau: I wished to live deliberately and not when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
Woodruff took a few minutes to recognize distinct Cranbrook faculty members who changed his life as a youth – Arlyce Seibert, Charlie Shaw and Mickey Price – then said that Cranbrook even changed his life now – 28 years after launching his own cap in the air at Christ Cranbrook Church.
“Cranbrook once again has changed my life, and this time the change in my life is Miles,” said Woodruff of graduating senior Miles Levin, who was the student speaker of the ceremony. “I never really met a senior with more courage and guts than Miles. He has told us what it means to live life without fear but with joy.”
Recently, Woodruff forged a friendship with Levin when they met in the airport on a flight to New York City. The strength to persevere through life’s heart-wrenching challenges has bonded them. With genuine admiration, Woodruff, who has been deeply moved by Levin’s battle with the muscle cancer rhabdomyosarcoma, quoted a section from Levin’s Web site crediting the senior for inspiring others to leave the world a better place.
On a final note, Woodruff confessed that he always wondered about the meaning of the
“Aim High” statue. So, on this morning, before a congregation of proud parents and wide-eyed graduates, his interpretation would leave the group with a lasting thought about their future.
“It’s not about the hardness of the arrow or the strength of the bow,” said Woodruff. “It is the place and the target you decide to shoot at. A goal you know now, or a new one you discover years ahead. It is in your ultimate impact and victory, so aim high my friends.”
The boys also heard from graduating senior Miles Levin, whose battle with a rare form of pediatric cancer has launched him into a national spotlight. Rather than focus on his experiences fighting cancer, however, he spoke of the responsibilities of those born into priviledge, whether it be the priviledge of wealth, clean water, excellent education or good health.
Visit the Media Gallery to view photos and listen to the speeches delivered on this special day.
External Media Coverage:
Detroit News articles
Detroit Free Press articles
Observer and Eccentric article
WWJ article
WJR
Daily Tribune article
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Woodruff connected with the audience of young men telling them that when he was in their shoes he did not know what life had in store for him.
“There are very few things you can predict in this life but so far you have the best education in the world,” said Woodruff. “Life will just keep changing. The studying will never end.”
For Woodruff, the studying continued after Cranbrook at Colgate University for three years before transferring to U-M Law School. After practicing law in New York, he took his legal expertise overseas to Beijing where he taught others his profession. Eventually, teaching would lead to a significant career change for Woodruff who went from lawyer to journalist.
Woodruff explained that he lived in 10 different cities covering wars all around the world and ultimately landed the role of ABC Nightly News anchor. He never could have predicted what happened next. Just 27 days on the job as an anchor, he was reporting from the war in Iraq when a bomb struck his vehicle. He suffered a traumatic brain injury but battled back to a full recovery in only 13 months.
Woodruff acknowledged that the support and love he received from his family and friends fueled his determination to heal. He noted that two of the yearbook quotes he chose as a Cranbrook senior closely describe the life experiences he has encountered to this day.
“It’s almost odd that the ones I put in the yearbook back then … address so much that I’ve been through now. I still believe them... In so many ways, I would have copied these again today.”
He quoted Henry Thoreau: I wished to live deliberately and not when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
Woodruff took a few minutes to recognize distinct Cranbrook faculty members who changed his life as a youth – Arlyce Seibert, Charlie Shaw and Mickey Price – then said that Cranbrook even changed his life now – 28 years after launching his own cap in the air at Christ Cranbrook Church.
“Cranbrook once again has changed my life, and this time the change in my life is Miles,” said Woodruff of graduating senior Miles Levin, who was the student speaker of the ceremony. “I never really met a senior with more courage and guts than Miles. He has told us what it means to live life without fear but with joy.”
Recently, Woodruff forged a friendship with Levin when they met in the airport on a flight to New York City. The strength to persevere through life’s heart-wrenching challenges has bonded them. With genuine admiration, Woodruff, who has been deeply moved by Levin’s battle with the muscle cancer rhabdomyosarcoma, quoted a section from Levin’s Web site crediting the senior for inspiring others to leave the world a better place.
On a final note, Woodruff confessed that he always wondered about the meaning of the
“Aim High” statue. So, on this morning, before a congregation of proud parents and wide-eyed graduates, his interpretation would leave the group with a lasting thought about their future.
“It’s not about the hardness of the arrow or the strength of the bow,” said Woodruff. “It is the place and the target you decide to shoot at. A goal you know now, or a new one you discover years ahead. It is in your ultimate impact and victory, so aim high my friends.”
The boys also heard from graduating senior Miles Levin, whose battle with a rare form of pediatric cancer has launched him into a national spotlight. Rather than focus on his experiences fighting cancer, however, he spoke of the responsibilities of those born into priviledge, whether it be the priviledge of wealth, clean water, excellent education or good health.
Visit the Media Gallery to view photos and listen to the speeches delivered on this special day.
External Media Coverage:
Detroit News articles
Detroit Free Press articles
Observer and Eccentric article
WWJ article
WJR
Daily Tribune article
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Boys Commencement Speaker, Bob Woodruff, Class of 1979
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Miles Levin, Student Speaker, Boys Commencement
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