Here’s J.K. Rowling speaking with eloquence at Harvard’s graduation. You’ll find a little wit (although far different than the kind on display when Sacha Baron Cohen — a.k.a. Ali G & Borat — spoke at Harvard graduation festivities several years ago). And then there’s the sage advice that she dispenses. Some good thoughts on why success is ultimately predicated on failure (thoughts that call to mind Steve Jobs’ talk at Stanford), and why we need to exercise the power of imagination — and empathy — in the broadest sense. Here it goes. Get Part 2 here and Part 3 here. For more YouTube content from universities, see this collection.
(PS Metafilter has posted today some links to other good graduation speeches, including ones by Bono, Vaclav Havel, and Elie Wiesel.)
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FYI, Sasha Baron Cohen spoke at Class Day, rather than Commencement a few years ago at Harvard. That’s a big difference. It is doubtful anyone like Ali G would be allowed to speak on Commencement Day at Harvard. (Class Day happens the day before Commencement, and tends to have lighter and more humorous guests, and involves only the undergraduates at Harvard)