The finest commencement speeches are frequently motivational and thought-provoking, leaving new graduates optimistic as they head into the “genuine entire world.”

But for the Course of 2024 at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, new grads walked away with much more than just a wealth of understanding — they still left their ceremony with an additional $1,000 in their pockets.

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Past 7 days, the founder and CEO of Granite Telecommunications, Robert Hale Jr., spoke to grads at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth about their futures and shared a tale about a time when his business enterprise suffered a $1 billion decline in just one working day to make clear the significance of perseverance by failure.

“It truly is ok to are unsuccessful,” Hale advised graduates. “Everyday living will give you issues and if you just take people problems you may fall short from time to time — don’t get worried about it … really don’t anxiety failure, recognize that it truly is just part of the process, and if you use that anxiety of failure to motivate oneself, you can be superior for it.”

Then, as he wrapped up, he stunned the audience by announcing he was providing every single graduate graduate $1,000 — but there was a catch.

“These making an attempt situations have heightened the have to have for sharing, caring, and offering,” Hale advised learners. “Our community wants you and your generosity a lot more than ever.”

The students ended up provided two envelopes with $500 each and every — a single was supposed for the college students to hold for on their own though the other was for them to give to another person else in need to have.

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“As the diploma conferral was about to commence, Hale arrived forward and enable the graduates know he had 1 more little bit of advice for them. He instructed the keen group that for him and his spouse Karen, ‘the best joys we’ve experienced in our lifestyle have been the reward of supplying,'” UMass Dartmouth explained in a launch. “Hale permit the Class of 2024 know that the two significant duffle baggage remaining introduced up on phase by stability have been packed with envelopes comprehensive of money.”

There have been about 1,200 learners in UMass Dartmouth’s 2024 graduating class.

Hale’s present internet really worth is an estimated $5.4 billion.