Trevor Noah 2021 Princeton University Commencement Speech

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It is my honor to introduce our class day speaker, Mr. Trevor Noah. Originally from South Africa and a current resident of New York City, Trevor Noah is one of the most successful comedians in the world.

I am honored to introduce you to our graduation day speaker, Mr. Trevor Noah. Originally from South Africa and now based in New York City, Trevor Noah is one of the most successful comedians in the world.

In just the past year, his Emmy award-winning TV show, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, received six Emmy nominations. Mr. Noah has also written, produced, and starred in 11 comedy specials.

Just this past year, his Emmy-winning tv show The Daily Show with Trevor Noah has received six Emmy nominations. Mr. Noah has also written, produced and starred in 11 comedy specials.

Many in our class consider him to be one the most astute cultural critics of our time and they have found his comedy as an entryway into deeper conversation. In April of 2018, Mr. Noah launched the Trevor Noah Foundation, a development initiative that empowers youth with access to high-quality education.

Many in our class considered him one of the sharpest cultural critics of our time, and they found his comedy to be a gateway into deeper conversations. In April 2018, Mr. Noah launched the Trevor Noah Foundation, a development initiative that aims to empower youth to access quality education.

Through a partnership with Microsoft, the Foundation is able to provide under-resourced schools with technology as a tool to enhance the learning experience and increase digital literacy beyond the classroom. We are thrilled to have Mr. Noah as our class day speaker because of his talent for bringing joy during this year's unprecedented times and to talk about challenging subjects with humor.

Through a partnership with Microsoft, the Foundation is able to provide under-resourced schools with technical tools to improve learning experiences and improve digital literacy outside the classroom. We are delighted that Mr. Noah was our graduation day speaker as he brought us joy in times never before this year and spoke humorously about challenging topics.

He has inspired us with his ability to transcend boundaries and navigate the world with grace kindness and a commitment to finding common ground. Now, I would like to present Mr. Trevor Noah in conversation with our class day chairs Kamia Michael and morgan.

He inspires us by his ability to transcend boundaries, to lead the world with grace, kindness, and a commitment to finding common ground. I would now like to invite Mr. Trevor Noah to engage in a dialogue with our Graduation Day Chairmen, Camilla Michael and Morgan.

Welcome in, Mr. Noah. It's so good to see you. My name's Morgan. What's going on, Mogan? How you doing?

Welcome in, Mr. Noah. Nice to see you. My name is Morgan. Hello Morgan, how are you?

Doing well. Hi, Mr. Noah, I'm Kamiyah. It's so nice to meet you.

I am fine. Hi Mr. Noah, I'm Kamia. Nice to meet you.

Hi, Kamiyah, how you doing? Pleasure to meet you. - I'm doing good. Hi, Mr. Noah, I'm Michael.

Hi Kamia, how are you? Nice to see you. - I'm fine. Hi Mr. Noah, I'm Michael.

Good to meet you, Michael. You've got a really cool, uh, picture in, like the, in the, in the, um, what is it, the class day thing. You guys have, like a little like little superhero combination going on there. I like it. I appreciate it.

Nice to meet you, Michael. You have a cool picture that looks like you're in class. You guys are a bit like a superhero combination. I like it. I appreciate it.

It is such a pleasure to welcome you in. Uh, so, we have a couple of questions on behalf of our peers that we know that just they're so eager to hear from you.

It's a pleasure to welcome you in. We have a few questions on behalf of our classmates that we know they would love to know about your opinion.

And so the first question is, you know, when did it hit that, you know, comedy, like this is this is my calling, this is what I'm good at, but when did that moment hit for you and how might we seek that moment out for ourselves? It was the first time somebody paid me, Morgan, that's, that's when the moment was.

The first question is, you know, when did you start to know that comedy was, like, it was your mission, it was what you were good at, but when did that moment come? How do we find that moment for ourselves? The first time someone paid me, Morgan, that was the moment.

Um, no, I'm joking. The, the first moment when I knew it was a calling was instinctively when I made people laugh for the first time. So, you know, in school I'd always been like the class clown.

No, I'm kidding. When I first made people laugh, I instinctively realized it was a calling. You know, at school I was always like the clown in the class.

I was never the most popular kid but I made everybody laugh. I mean, whether it was the bullies, whether it was the jocks, whether it was the nerds, whether it was. . .

I've never been the most popular kid, but I made everyone laugh. I mean, whether it's a bully, an athlete, a nerd, or...

I just knew how to make people laugh; I knew how to get into their worlds. I would make teachers laugh as well.

I just know how to make people laugh; I know how to get into their world. I also make my teacher laugh.

It's not like I was, I was an asshole to my, my teachers. You know, they'd never be like, Trevor misbehaves, they would always just say, like, he just, you know, he likes making people laugh too much.

It's not that I'm a bad student in the eyes of my teachers. You know, they're not going to say Trevor misbehaving, they're going to say, he's just, you know, he's too fond of making people laugh.

Sometimes, he needs to calm down. And, um, and this would follow me everywhere in life.

Sometimes, he needs to calm down. Then, well, it's everywhere in my life.

You know, I would, I would, I would tell jokes at parties; I would, you know, whenever there was a group of people gathered around, I would, I would try and tell funny stories and. . . And over time, I came to realize that this, this was something I wish I could do.

You know, I'll tell jokes at parties; you know, whenever there's a group of people getting together, I try to tell some funny stories... Over time, I came to realize that this was something I wished I could do.

But you must remember in South Africa, we didn't have a comedy scene at that time, you know, because of apartheid free speech was inhibited. And so, it's not like we ever had a comedy thing.

But you know, in South Africa, we didn't have comedy theater at the time, you know, because of apartheid, freedom of speech was forbidden. It's not that we've never had drama.

So, I never dreamed of being a comedian, but I think that's when the calling hit me and um. . . And so yeah, for the first few months of my comedy career, I did it for free.

So, I never dreamed of being a comedian, but I guess that's when I was suddenly called... So, for the first few months of my comedy career, I was free to star.

I loved it. Um, and it only became a career when somebody paid me for the first time, then I was like, "Oh wow, I can actually try and do what iIlove for, for a living." And, and that as they say the rest is history.

I loved it. Well, it didn't become my career until someone first gave me money, when I thought, "Oh wow, I can try to do what I love to make a living." "As they say, the rest is history.

Um, Mr. Noah, how do you navigate belongingness? As an international student, I'm constantly thinking about what home means.

Mr. Noah, how did you find a sense of belonging? As an international student, I often wonder what home means.

You grew up in South Africa and then moved to the US to pursue comedy. So, do you ever find yourself feeling like home is in multiple places and nowhere at the same time, or is it something completely different for you?

You grew up in South Africa and then moved to the United States to pursue a career in comedy. So, have you ever found yourself feeling like home is in multiple places, but at the same time there is no place, or something completely different for you?

You know what I've come to realize, uh Kamiyah, is I've come to realize that home for me could be different for everyone, but home for me is where my people are. And what I've come to learn is my people can be anywhere, you know, so I have a close-knit group of friends who I've grown up with, who I've met over the years in my life whether it's in comedy or in, in just general life and, and those people have become like the core of who I am as a person.

You know, Kamia, I'm starting to realize that home is different for everyone, but for me, home is where my friends and family are. What I've learned is that my people can be anywhere, you know, so I have a close group of friends with whom I grew up with whom I've known for many years in my life, whether in comedy or in ordinary life, and these people have become central to my being as a person.

They remind me of who I am, um, they make me enjoy life with them; we, we share stories and we build together. And so, for me, those people have become home and so when I think of South Africa, I think of that as my home.

They remind me of who I am, and they make me enjoy life with them; we share stories and build together. So, for me, those people have become home, so when I think of South Africa, I think of it as my home.

But then when I think of New York, I think of New York as my home. You know, I think of, of, of the joy that I have when I'm out here.

But when I think of New York, I think of It as my home. You know, I thought about it, I thought about it, I thought about the joy I had when I was here.

I think of, um, you know, California at some point, Pasadena was my home. So, so for myself, I, I, yeah I've come to realize that as long as I have the people, any place feels like home and in terms of belonging, it is the people who make you feel like you belong or you don't.

I think of California, and Pasadena is my home. So, for myself, I've realized that as long as I'm with my friends, there's a sense of home anywhere, and in terms of belonging, it's these people who make you feel like belonging, or make you feel no sense of belonging.

It's not the place and so, if you can find a group of people who, who you relate to, who, who make you aspire to be more, who challenge you, who help you enjoy life, and, you know, help you through the tough times as well, then I think you'll find a sense of belonging no matter where you are. Mr. Noah, I want to get a little bit more into your work.

The point isn't on place, if you can find a group of people who are related to you, make you crave more success, challenge you, help you enjoy life, help you through tough times, then I think you'll find a sense of belonging wherever you are. Mr. Noah, I would like to say more about your work.

In your mind, what role does comedy play in popular culture right now so what are you thinking about when you create content for your specials or for the daily show? Well, Michael, the one thing about comedy now is that it's so mainstream and it's so big that I don't think it has a role, I think it can play multiple roles.

In your opinion, what role does comedy play in pop culture right now? When you're making content for your special or daily show, what do you think about? Well, Michael, one of the characteristics of comedy right now is that it's too mainstream, it's too widespread, and I don't think it's just playing one role, I think it can play multiple roles.

You know, so asking what role does comedy play is like saying what role does Tech play or what role does music play or what role. . . You know, I think that there was a time when comedy was so niched that maybe it played a role but I think I think now it plays many roles.

You know, asking what role comedy plays is like saying what role technology plays and what role music plays. You know, I think there was a time when comedy was very niche and maybe it played a role, but I think now it plays a lot of role.

The most important one for me, I define my rules for comedy and I go number one. The first rule for me is to make people feel better.

The most important thing for me is that I define my comedic rules and I put myself first. My first principle is to make people feel better.

That's what I'm trying to do. You know, I want you to laugh.

That's what I want to do. You know, I want you to laugh.

When you come to my show, when you watch my tv show, whatever you do, I want you to leave feeling a little bit better than when you came in. And that's what I. . . because I love that, I love going to comedy shows where I laugh and I enjoy myself and I go like, "Man, that was fun", and I'm laughing on the way home and I'm trying to tell the jokes to my friends the next day.

When you come to my show, when you watch my TV show, whatever you do, I want you to leave feeling a little bit better than when you come in. That's who I am... Because I like that, I like to watch comedy where I'll laugh, I'll enjoy it, I'll say, "Oh my God, that's funny," I'll laugh on the way home, and the next day I'll tell the joke to my friends.

That's, that for me is what I'm looking for and that's what I try and give to an audience. I think comedy on, on, on a larger scale for me is, is also about speaking truth.

For me, that's what I'm looking for and what I'm trying to give to the audience. I think comedy, for me, by and large, is also telling the truth.

You know, um, comedy for me has always been that place where it's like we can talk about the uncomfortable truths. You know, we can talk about racism while laughing with people we, we can talk about uh misogyny while laughing with people.

You know, for me, comedy has always been a place where we can talk about disturbing truths. You know, we can talk about racism while we laugh with people, we can talk about misogyny while laughing with people.

We can talk about some of the more uncomfortable things in society and hopefully poke holes and reveal some of the light that comes through those holes while using comedy to, to, to, I guess, lessen the burden that the audience is feeling. So, instead of it just being a lecture about like "Oh, this is why racism is bad," it's using comedy in such a way where somebody's sitting in the audience and they're like, "Man I never thought of it like that."

We can talk about some of the more uncomfortable things in society, hoping to poke out some loopholes, to reveal some of the light that passes through these loopholes, and at the same time use comedy, I think, to reduce the burden on the audience. So, it's not a lecture like "Oh, that's why racism is bad," but in a comedic way where someone sits in the audience and they say, "Oh my God, I never thought of it that way." ”

"Yeah, actually, racism is pretty stupid. I got to think about these things. I got to figure that out. . ." "Oh, yeah, actually why do we have toxic masculinity as men? This is holding us back. Maybe we should try and figure. . ."

"Yes, actually, racism is stupid. I have to think about these things. "Oh yeah, actually why are we men's masculinity toxic?" This has hampered our development. Maybe we should try to think..."

But it's like how do you figure out how to play with that and tell the truth. And so for me, comedy is oftentimes a tool that I will use to subvert what society has accepted as normal or the standard or, you know, or the status quo because that's oftentimes what happens in society is we just accept something as being normal.

But it's like how you figure out the stalks and how to tell the truth. So for me, comedy is often a tool, and I'll use it to subvert the normal or the standard that society has accepted, or, you know, or the status quo, because what often happens in society is that we just accept something normal.

And then at some point, you know, as a comedian you go like, "Guys, this is, this is not normal. You realize that, right? This is not actually normal." We've just done it for so long and so I, I enjoy those aspects of comedy and I think that's, that's the role that comedy fills in my life and what I try to do with it in the world.

And then in a way, you know, as a comedian, you say, "Guys, this is, this is not normal, you know, right?" This is actually not normal. "We've been doing it for a long time, so I love these aspects of comedy and I think that's the role comedy plays in my life and what I want to do with it in this world."

So, thinking of that subversion and that discomfort, what has been your greatest lesson around taking risks? What has been my greatest lesson in taking risk? That's interesting.

So, what's the biggest lesson you've learned when it comes to taking risks about that kind of disruption and discomfort? What was my biggest lesson in venturing? It's interesting.

I think I would split that lesson into two. Number one, not all risks are worth taking.

I think I'll split the lesson in two. First, not all risks are worth taking.

And what I mean by that is sometimes, I understand that the risk may not even be to myself but it may be to the subject of the comedy or the unintended consequences of the comedy that I'm saying. And so, what I realize is I go, "Ah if I'm trying to tell this joke, and it may come off the wrong way. Let me try and spend more time not telling it and figuring out how to clean up the, the, you know, what I like to call the targets of the joke."

I mean, sometimes, I understand that the risk may not even be on my own, but it may also be on the subject of comedy, or what I call the unintended consequences of comedy. So, I realized I was thinking, "Ah, if I wanted to tell this joke, it might be misunderstood." Let me try to spend more time not talking about it and think about how to clean up the stuff that, you know, I like to call joke objects. ”

And, and then minimize the risk if I can call it that because, you know, I can't control how people feel about jokes. Everyone can be offended about anything.

If I can say that, then minimize the risk because, you know, I can't control what people think about jokes. Everyone will be offended by anything.

I, I don't, I don't believe in like going, "Oh, if you're offended, I'm sorry." No! You can be offended by anything I say.

I wouldn't say, "Oh, you've been offended, I'm sorry. "No, it won't! Anything I say can offend you.

And if you are offended, I didn't intend to offend you and because offense has taken, I have no control over your offense. What I do know is, is, is comedy, not just professional comedy, but even between human beings, interpersonal comedy is all contextual.

If you are offended, I am not intentionally offending you, because the offense has already happened and I have no control over the offense against you. What I do know is that comedy, not just professional comedy, even between people, interpersonal comedy has a background.

You know, you can say something, Morgan, to your friends that a stranger could never say to you because you have the context of your friendship. You know, Michael, you can say the same thing to your friends that nobody can say and the same thing with you, come here, you can say things. . .

Morgan, you can say to your friends something that a stranger would never say to you because you have your friendship background. Michael, you can say the same thing to your friend that no one can say, come here, you can say...

These are things that you have because you have context. And so, when I look at the risk, I first look at the context, and then I think about mitigating that risk and so I go "who are we and what are we talking about".

These are the things you have because you have the background. So, when I think about risk, I first think about the context, and then I think about how to reduce the risk, and I think "who we are and what we're talking about."

Unfortunately, these days, especially with comedy and, and, and I think with social media as well, a lot of the time context gets thrown into the wind because you can be having a conversation with one person. And social media is weird because back in the day, I would be talking to Kamiyah, just me and you, Kamiyah, and I'll be talking to you and let's say we've been best friends for 10 years and I'll tell you a joke about India and then you'll tell me a joke about South Africa and we laugh.

Unfortunately, now, especially in comedy and social media, a lot of times the background is thrown aside because you might be having a conversation with someone. Social media is weird because in the old days I'd talk to Kamiya and it was just me and you, Kamiya, and I'd talk to you, assuming we were good friends for ten years, I'd tell you a joke about India and then you'd tell me a joke about South Africa and we all laughed.

Now, we do that on social media and then somebody who doesn't know us goes, "How dare you say that about India?" "How dare you say that about South Africa?" And all of a sudden, the context of our conversation has been lost.

Now, we do that on social media, and then a person who doesn't know us well asks, "How dare you say that about India?" "How dare you say that about South Africa?" Suddenly, our conversation lost context.

And so, when I look at the risk, I try and mitigate as much as I can. That happening because my intention is not to, I don't have time to offend people I'm not even trying to I don't, I don't benefit anything from that.

Therefore, when I see the risk, I try to mitigate the risk as much as possible. It's because I didn't mean it, I didn't have time to offend people, I didn't even try, I didn't, I didn't get any benefit from it.

So, I try and mitigate that risk, but at the same time not at the expense of speaking my truth. Thank you so much. Something that, you know, we've been thinking about is traveling during the pandemic and in Afraid of the Dark, you said that traveling is the antidote to ignorance.

So, I try to mitigate that risk, but at the same time not at the expense of telling my truth. Thank you so much. You know, what we've been thinking about is traveling during the pandemic, and in Dark, Panic, you say travel is the antidote to ignorance.

For those of us who miss the typical college experience because of the pandemic, could you talk more about how travel has influenced your own perspectives? Wow, travel has not just influenced, it's shaped my perspective.

For those who missed out on the typical college experience because of the pandemic, can you talk about how travel has affected your own way of thinking? Wow, travel not only influenced me, it shaped the way I think.

You know, travel for me is, is, is a humbling experience if you do it because it will show you that the world is bigger than your world. It'll also show you that every idea you have that you accept as dogma is in fact just an idea.

You know, traveling is a humbling experience for me, and if you go on a trip, because it will tell you that the real world is bigger than your own. It will also tell you that every idea you have, the dogma you accept, is really just an idea.

And so, when you travel, you start to realize that most of the rules we learn as human beings are just societal structural ideas that have been imparted on us by our parents or our forefathers. But when you go somewhere else, they're like no we, we just don't do that.

So, as you travel, you begin to realize that most of the rules we learn as human beings are just notions of social structure that our parents or ancestors taught us. But when you go somewhere else, they say no, we just don't.

You know, and, and I think that that's humbling and I think it's also informative because it tells you and it teaches you that the way you think the world is isn't, it's just the way your world is. And, and so whether it's learning that somewhere out there people are just like, "Ah, English? Who gives a damn about English?"

You know, I think it's shameful, and I think it's also beneficial because it tells you, it tells you that the world you think is not like this, it's just that your own world is like this. So whether it's studying, or somewhere outside, people will say, "Ah, English?" Who cares about English? ”

You're like, "Oh, but English." And they're like, "No, we don't care."

You say, "Ah, but in English." They said, "No, we don't care." ”

You're like, "But how do you do things?" And they're like, "Yeah, we don't care. We speak other languages."

You'd say, "But how do you do things?" They said, "Well, we don't care. We speak other languages. ”

That's humbling. You know, you go to another place where they, they go like, "Oh, this is, this is what we do; this is how we eat, we eat with our hands", or, or "this is how we speak", or "this is how we laugh", or "this is how we dance", or "this is how we communicate with. . ." everything.

This is humbling. You know, you go to another place and they say, "Oh, this is, this is what we do; this is how we eat, we eat with our hands," or, "This is the way we talk," or "This is the way we laugh," or "This is the way we dance," or "This is what we do with... Ways of communicating" and so on.

And I think that, that's a humbling experience. That's why, that's why I truly enjoy it because I think it gives you a sense of of understanding that everybody is generally coming from a perspective in the world that they think is correct because they've learned it.

I think it was a humbling experience. That's why I really enjoy traveling because I think it gives you a sense of understanding others and everyone usually sees the world from the perspective they think is right, because that's what they've learned.

But in fact, there is no one correct way to do anything. You know, unless it's science, everything else, we've just applied with a veneer of the way it's supposed to be.

But in fact, there is no only right way to do anything. You know, unless it's science, everything else, we just think it's like this on the surface.

So, we're coming a little bit close to the end here, I think we have time for one more question and then the 2021 class officers want to induct you as a honorary member of our class. So, this past year has been, you know, it's been incredibly stressful and also transformative in both good and bad ways for everybody.

Okay, we're almost done, and I think we'll have time to ask one more question, and then the 2021 class leader wants you to be an honorary member of our class. The pressure over the past year has been incredibly overwhelming and transformative for everyone, for better or for worse.

So, I want to ask you looking forward, what is your greatest hope and your biggest fear for the year that follows? My greatest hope is that we will use this time which is arguably one of the worst periods the world has been in, in recent history to. . . to try and transform how we do things.

So, I want to ask you, looking to the future, what is your greatest hope and what is your biggest worry in the coming year? My best hope is that we will use this period, arguably one of the worst times in the world in recent years, to come... Try to change the way we do things.

You know, let's relook everything, the way we've been forced to relook everything. Let's relook work. Do people need to be in the office five days a week?

Let's re-examine everything as if we were forced to re-examine everything. We look at work anew. Do people need to be in the office five days a week?

I think we've realized that they don't need to be. If possible, people can work from home when they need to.

I think we've realized they don't need to. If possible, people can work from home when they need to.

It can be better for your mental health; it can be better for traffic on the roads; it can be better for parents who need to stay home and look after their kids when they're sick; it could be better for everybody in society. We realize now that it's possible.

It's good for your mental health; it can better facilitate road traffic; it's better for parents who need to care for sick children at home; it's good for everyone in society. We now realize that this is possible.

I hope that in the future, we apply these lessons; i hope that in the future we come to realize that just like everybody who was forced to stay home or forced to, to, to leave work or forced to, to not participate in society that once coronavirus is gone, there is still a subset of society that has permanent coronavirus. People don't just not have jobs because they don't want to have jobs, you know?

I hope that in the future, we apply these lessons; I hope that in the future we will realize that, like everyone who is forced to stay at home or forced to leave work or forced not to participate in society, once the coronavirus is gone, there will still be a part of society that has a permanent coronavirus. People don't just don't have jobs because they don't want to have jobs, you know?

Most people are out of work; most people cannot be integrated into the workforce; most people are struggling; most people are starving. This is happening despite coronavirus.

Most people are unemployed; most people can't integrate into the labor market; most people are struggling; most people are starving. With or without COVID-19, this is still happening.

Coronavirus just made it, I guess, a more mainstream thing. And I hope that after this, we have a little more compassion and going like, "Oh, wow, you're unemployed. I know what it's like to be unemployed because coronavirus made me unemployed."

Covid-19 has only made it a more mainstream thing. I hope that after this, we can be a little more compassionate and say, "Oh wow, you're unemployed." I know what it's like to be unemployed because COVID-19 has left me unemployed. ”

"Oh, wow, you, you haven't been this?" or "you're sick?" or "you're disabled, do you? I understand these things a little bit more because temporarily, I experienced these same statuses." I hope that we move forward with a certain sense of compassion.

"Oh, wow, you, haven't you ever been like this?" Or "Are you sick?" Or," "You're disabled, aren't you?" I know a little bit more about these things because I briefly went through the same state. "I want us to move forward with some kind of compassion.

One of my fears going forward, my fears especially for America is that coronavirus will merely become a blip on the radar where people learn nothing from it. My fear is that it'll become a politicized idea in people's minds where somehow the way so many things have in America because of social media and just the way information gets warped, it'll become another conspiracy theory, it'll become another, you know like, "Oh, who did coronavirus? Who did 9·11?"

One of my worries about the future, especially for the United States, is that the coronavirus will be just a point of light on the radar and people won't learn anything from it. I'm afraid that it's going to become a politicized idea in people's minds, like a lot of things in America, because social media and information are distorted, and it's going to be another conspiracy theory, and it's going to be another, you know, like , "Oh, who made the coronavirus?" Who did 9/11? ”

It just becomes a game. And my fear is that instead of looking at this as a moment in time when humanity itself was tested and people were forced to think together and move together and be together, it will actually be seen as just another point of fragmentation where people can go off in their different directions and believe whatever they want to believe.

It just turned into a game. My concern is that when humanity itself is tested and people are forced to think together, act together, and live together, not in a difficult moment together, but in another moment of fragmentation, when people go in different directions and believe whatever they want to believe.

And I fear that many people will learn nothing from this experience. That's my fear.

I'm afraid a lot of people won't learn anything from this experience. That's what I'm worried about.

Thank you so much. Yes, thank you Mr. Noah.

Thank you very much. Okay, thank you, Mr. Noah.

No, thank you. Thank you all. - Thank you. It was a pleasure. Thank you so much, Mr. Noah, for taking the time to join our graduating class on this special day.

No, thanks. Thank you. - Thank you very much. It's an honor. Thank you, Mr. Noah, for taking the time out of your time to attend our graduating class on this special day.

Before we officially induct you into our class, I would like to start introductions from our class officers. My name is Emma and I'm the senior class president.

Before we officially introduce you to our class, I would like to introduce our class leaders. My name is Emma and I am the class leader of my senior class.

I'm studying in the school of Public and International Affairs and I'm from Tenafly New Jersey. Hi, I'm Sanjana I'm the senior class vice president.

I studied at the School of Public and International Affairs, and I'm from Turnafle, New Jersey. Hi, I'm Sanjana and I'm the deputy class leader of the senior class.

I'm a sociology major and also from New Jersey. Hi, I'm Kavya. I am the senior class treasurer I'm from Miami Florida and I'm studying the school of Public and International Affairs.

I major in sociology and am a Native of New Jersey. Hi, I'm Kavia. I am a Senior Treasurer from Miami, Florida, attending the School of Public and International Affairs.

Hi, my name is Arielle. I'm the 2021 class secretary. I'm a psychology major with a certificate in gender and sexuality studies and I'm from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Hi, my name is Ariel. I am the Minister of the Class of 2021. I am a psychology major with a certificate in gender and sexuality studies, from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Hello, I'm Phoebe. I'm the 2021 class social chair. I study Civil Environmental Engineering and I'm from Philadelphia.

Hello, I'm Phoebe. I am the Student Council President of Class 2021. I studied civil environmental engineering from Philadelphia.

And so, every year we select honorary class members to join in our graduation celebrations. Mr. Noah, we're absolutely thrilled to welcome you to the great class of 2021 and I'd like to take a moment to read what is written on the certificate that we're presenting to you as part of your official induction into our class.

Every year we select honored students to attend our graduation celebrations. Mr. Noah, we are very excited to welcome you to the Class of 2021, and I would like to take a moment to read what is written on the certificate we have issued to you as part of your official entry into our class.

So, the Princeton University class of 2021 welcomes Trevor Noah into its ranks for his singular talent of bringing joy during the unprecedented times of this past year. Mr. Noah captivates and inspires our generation through wit and incisive analysis of the salient socio-economic and cultural issues of our world today.

That's why Princeton's Class of 2021 welcomes Trevor Noah to their ranks because of his extraordinary talent that has brought us unprecedented joy over the past year. Mr. Noah has attracted and inspired our generation through his wisdom and profound analysis of the socio-economic and cultural issues that stand out in the world today.

He is guided by a moral compass that seeks equity and justice for all people and in doing so demonstrates to us the power of giving voices to one's own values. Mr. Noah has inspired us with his ability to transcend boundaries and navigate the world with grace, kindness, and a commitment to finding common ground.

The moral code he follows is the search for fairness and justice for all, which shows us the power to express personal values. Mr. Noah inspires us with his ability to push boundaries, to lead the world with grace, kindness and a commitment to finding common ground.

We are honored and grateful to invite him into our cohort. And so, as a member of the great class of 2021, you will receive the alumni magazine and we're honored to invite you to all of our class reunions in the future.

We are honored and grateful to have him join us. So, as a member of the Class of 2021, you'll receive the Alumni Magazine, and we're honored to invite you to all of our future class reunions.

Um, professor Eddie Glaude who has been a guest on your show is kind enough to send along some signed books for you to add to your collection. And finally, we'd like to present you with some Princeton clothing, clothing.

Professor Eddie Glaud is a guest on your show and he'll be happy to send you some signed books for you to collect. Finally, we would like to send you some Princeton clothes.

I see that you're already wearing your Princeton Hoodie. And we're hoping that you'll add some more orange into your wardrobe.

I see you've put on your Princeton hoodie. We hope you add more orange clothes to your wardrobe.

Thank you again for your remarks and welcome to the Princeton class of 2021. Thank you so much, everybody.

Thanks again for your statement and welcome to princeton's class of 2021. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. I will now introduce myself. Hi, I'm, I'm Trevor Noah. I am, uh, the part of the honorary class of and 2021, um, I've been studying, uh, Hoodie Management.

Thank you, thank you very much, thank you very much. Let me introduce myself now. Hi me, I'm Trevor Noah. I am a member of the Class of 2021 Honors and I have been studying hoodie management.

Um, I have, I have a degree in Hoodie Management, my major has been sweatpants and general hoodie zoom couture. And so, that is what I've been studying this year, and I just want to say thank you to everybody.

I have, I have a degree in hoody management, my specialty is sweatpants and general hoodie customization. That's what I'm learning this year, and I just want to say thank you to everyone.

I appreciate you so much and we did it, guys! We did it! We graduated! we did it! Thanks, everybody. I really appreciate you guys, man, this has been so much fun and I really hope you guys go out and change the world.

I'm so thankful to you guys, we did it, guys! We did it! We graduated! We did it! Thank you. I really appreciate you guys, man, it's so much fun and I really want you guys to go out and change the world.

Don't, don't let it be the same way it was before you came into it. Thank you, everybody.

Don't, don't let it stay the way it was before you got into it. Thank you.