Ariana Storm Ascher. Photo by Joseph Sinnott. (via SVA Features)

SVA Features recently published an article about this year’s commencement exercises at Radio City Music Hall, including a recap of our own Ariana Storm Ascher’s Bachelor’s Degree Candidate’s Address:

In the first of the day’s addresses, after an introduction by Provost Jeffrey Nesin, Ariana Storm Ascher represented the bachelor’s degree candidates. A Visual and Critical Studies major, Storm is working on a documentary project “focused on the complex relationship between gentrification and art.”

Storm immediately challenged her fellow graduates to find their place in the world: “What is your cause, and what will your contributions to the art world mean in the context of the art world at large? Whatever path your creativity leads toward, make sure you are courageous enough to reach for the role of innovator, leader, head honcho.”

She went on to acknowledge the many routes her peers might follow. “There are infinite ways of being creative. We are all in this together… Kierkegaard said, ‘Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.’ Don’t feel paralyzed by the many avenues you can take. We are lucky to have so much in front of us to solve. We notice things, so use your intuition to make an impact.”