--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never expected to join the ranks of…" description: "\"I never expected to join the ranks of commencement speakers, especially at my alma mater. I had a tough time there, left eagerly, and returned rarely.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/stephanie-ruhle-7203_alma-mater_i-never-expected-to-join-the-ranks-of-co_104910.jpg" --- # I never expected to join the ranks of commencement… ![“I never expected to join the ranks of commencement speakers, especially at my alma mater. I had a tough time there, left eagerly, and returned rarely.” quote by Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/stephanie-ruhle-7203_alma-mater_i-never-expected-to-join-the-ranks-of-co_104910.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/stephanie-ruhle-7203_alma-mater_i-never-expected-to-join-the-ranks-of-co_104910.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/stephanie-ruhle-7203_alma-mater_i-never-expected-to-join-the-ranks-of-co_104910.jpg) > “I never expected to join the ranks of commencement speakers, especially at my alma mater. I had a tough time there, left eagerly, and returned rarely.” [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected opportunities can arise from places once felt hostile; returning can bring closure or new purpose. **In simple terms:** Even a tough past can become a platform for contribution. Key Takeaway Embrace unlikely chances to give back. Themes career education redemption public speaking Mood hopeful nostalgic Type personal story motivational When to use this quote - alumni invited to speak at former schools - former employees returning as mentors - people speaking at conferences about past struggles Key Concepts personal growth narrative reversal Practical Applications - Prepare a narrative that acknowledges past pain and current insights - Use humor to diffuse tension with familiar audiences Questions to Reflect On - What does returning to a difficult place teach you about resilience? - How can you ensure your message honors both past and present? A Different Perspective May feel inauthentic if motives are perceived as self‑promotion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alma mater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alma-mater/) [Commencement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commencement/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tough time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough-time/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing is as easy to make as a promise this winter to do something next summer; this is how commencement speakers are caught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/nothing-is-as-easy-to-make-as-a-promise-this-winter-to-do-something/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [ “Take for example the commencement address he \[James Garfield\] delivered at his alma mater Hiram College in the summer of 1880. ... The only… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/take-for-example-the-commencement-address-he-james-garfield-delivered/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [At his Philadelphia alma mater, Temple University, Cosby gave commencement addresses and attended games. He served on the university's board of trustees for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaka-fattah/at-his-philadelphia-alma-mater-temple-university-cosby-gave/) [Chaka Fattah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaka-fattah/) > [My favorite commencement addresses are the ones that get real and don't make too many promises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/my-favorite-commencement-addresses-are-the-ones-that-get-real-and-don/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [And my advice for college graduates is don't reflexively give money to your alma mater, something particular to Americans that I find extraordinary. Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/and-my-advice-for-college-graduates-is-don-t-reflexively-give-money/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“We danced to John Michael Montgomery’s “I Swear.” We cut the seven-tiered cake, electing not to take the smear-it-on-our-faces route. We visited and laughed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/we-danced-to-john-michael-montgomery-s-i-swear-we-cut-the-seven/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Shortly after Senator Eugene J. McCarthy died in 2005 the age of 89, I became an honorary member of the committee starting a fellowship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-kelley/shortly-after-senator-eugene-j-mccarthy-died-in-2005-the-age-of-89-i/) [Kitty Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-kelley/) > [My Alma mater was books, a good library... I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/my-alma-mater-was-books-a-good-library-i-could-spend-the-rest-of-my/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I cast people from right around me. I was at my alma mater. It's special to have most of the graduate students in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalup-linzy/i-cast-people-from-right-around-me-i-was-at-my-alma-mater-it-s/) [Kalup Linzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalup-linzy/) > [I jumped on the Brady Hoke bandwagon in 2003 when he left an assistant job at Michigan to be the head coach at our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/i-jumped-on-the-brady-hoke-bandwagon-in-2003-when-he-left-an/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [I'm very committed to its educational institutions, including my alma mater Central Falls High School's drama program, because I know that's what got me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-m-very-committed-to-its-educational-institutions-including-my-alma/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [To cite my own alma mater, it's shocking to me that Yale University can teach what it teaches at the Yale School of Environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/to-cite-my-own-alma-mater-it-s-shocking-to-me-that-yale-university/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Public image is extremely important in American society and I observed personally that the Presidency of John F. Kennedy did much in the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rosovsky/public-image-is-extremely-important-in-american-society-and-i/) [Henry Rosovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rosovsky/) > [My alma mater was books, a good library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/my-alma-mater-was-books-a-good-library/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Wherever you go and whatever ends you pursue, you must always fulfill the trust reposed in you by your nation, your parents and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samar-mubarakmand/wherever-you-go-and-whatever-ends-you-pursue-you-must-always-fulfill/) Samar Mubarakmand ## More by Stephanie Ruhle > [I think I have a loyalty to try to make the best news show I can every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/i-think-i-have-a-loyalty-to-try-to-make-the-best-news-show-i-can/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [People label themselves husbands, wives, moms, sisters, and friends before they label themselves Democrats or Republicans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/people-label-themselves-husbands-wives-moms-sisters-and-friends/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [All of my life, I've been blessed with a fast metabolism and a petite physique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/all-of-my-life-i-ve-been-blessed-with-a-fast-metabolism-and-a-petite/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [I was involved in an organization called the White House Project, and the woman who ran it introduced me to Bloomberg. I told them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/i-was-involved-in-an-organization-called-the-white-house-project-and/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [There's only one thing I love more than race day: the morning after! The morning after the Marathon, New York catches running fever. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/there-s-only-one-thing-i-love-more-than-race-day-the-morning-after/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [I've never been the smartest or most qualified for any job I've ever had, and I'm talking waitressing, babysitting, you name it. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/i-ve-never-been-the-smartest-or-most-qualified-for-any-job-i-ve-ever/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [No doubt bias exists everywhere, but Wall Street is a ferocious battlefield with everyone in search of the next rainmaker or best strategy. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/no-doubt-bias-exists-everywhere-but-wall-street-is-a-ferocious/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [Like a lot of overcommitted, overworked Americans, I do not have much time to exercise. Plain and simple. Instead of merely accepting this sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/like-a-lot-of-overcommitted-overworked-americans-i-do-not-have-much/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [Seek out different perspectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/seek-out-different-perspectives/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [All of us, as humans, as Americans, as people who are lucky enough to be a part of this country's ideals, should care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/all-of-us-as-humans-as-americans-as-people-who-are-lucky-enough-to-be/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [College has become a business, and because of that, it can be gamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/college-has-become-a-business-and-because-of-that-it-can-be-gamed/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [You cannot change who you are, so don't punish yourself for your shortcomings. Know who you are, give it your best, and celebrate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/you-cannot-change-who-you-are-so-don-t-punish-yourself-for-your/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [It's essential that the media is sober and intentional in everything they do, and that's something we should all keep top of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/it-s-essential-that-the-media-is-sober-and-intentional-in-everything/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [Wall Street is not the right career for everyone or for every woman. That is clear. But it can't be wrong for every woman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/wall-street-is-not-the-right-career-for-everyone-or-for-every-woman/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [I write out my schedule for the week ahead on a white board. I step back. I take a second to look at it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/i-write-out-my-schedule-for-the-week-ahead-on-a-white-board-i-step/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) [Explore all 93 Stephanie Ruhle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) ## More Alma mater quotes > [Wherever you go and whatever ends you pursue, you must always fulfill the trust reposed in you by your nation, your parents and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samar-mubarakmand/wherever-you-go-and-whatever-ends-you-pursue-you-must-always-fulfill/) Samar Mubarakmand > [My alma mater was books, a good library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/my-alma-mater-was-books-a-good-library/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Public image is extremely important in American society and I observed personally that the Presidency of John F. Kennedy did much in the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rosovsky/public-image-is-extremely-important-in-american-society-and-i/) [Henry Rosovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rosovsky/) > [To cite my own alma mater, it's shocking to me that Yale University can teach what it teaches at the Yale School of Environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/to-cite-my-own-alma-mater-it-s-shocking-to-me-that-yale-university/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I'm very committed to its educational institutions, including my alma mater Central Falls High School's drama program, because I know that's what got me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-m-very-committed-to-its-educational-institutions-including-my-alma/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I jumped on the Brady Hoke bandwagon in 2003 when he left an assistant job at Michigan to be the head coach at our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/i-jumped-on-the-brady-hoke-bandwagon-in-2003-when-he-left-an/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [I cast people from right around me. I was at my alma mater. It's special to have most of the graduate students in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalup-linzy/i-cast-people-from-right-around-me-i-was-at-my-alma-mater-it-s/) [Kalup Linzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalup-linzy/) > [My Alma mater was books, a good library... I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/my-alma-mater-was-books-a-good-library-i-could-spend-the-rest-of-my/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Shortly after Senator Eugene J. McCarthy died in 2005 the age of 89, I became an honorary member of the committee starting a fellowship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-kelley/shortly-after-senator-eugene-j-mccarthy-died-in-2005-the-age-of-89-i/) [Kitty Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-kelley/) > [“We danced to John Michael Montgomery’s “I Swear.” We cut the seven-tiered cake, electing not to take the smear-it-on-our-faces route. We visited and laughed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/we-danced-to-john-michael-montgomery-s-i-swear-we-cut-the-seven/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [And my advice for college graduates is don't reflexively give money to your alma mater, something particular to Americans that I find extraordinary. Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/and-my-advice-for-college-graduates-is-don-t-reflexively-give-money/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I certainly wasn't seeking any degree, the way a college confers a status symbol upon its students. My homemade education gave me, with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/i-certainly-wasn-t-seeking-any-degree-the-way-a-college-confers-a/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) > [“Gregory: Well, Dane, you could share your impression with my alma mater instead. Dane: It's a challenge. Gregory: Glad to hear that hasn't changed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-osterlund/gregory-well-dane-you-could-share-your-impression-with-my-alma-mater/) [Anne Osterlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-osterlund/) > [Hail to St. Aegolius Our Alma Mater. Hail, our song we raise in praise of thee Long in the memory of every loyal owl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-lasky/hail-to-st-aegolius-our-alma-mater-hail-our-song-we-raise-in-praise/) [Kathryn Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-lasky/) > [“Here beneath the towering pines, by the river blue Farragut will ever stand, alma mater true”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-a-sarte/here-beneath-the-towering-pines-by-the-river-blue-farragut-will-ever/) Bruce A. Sarte [Browse all 50 Alma mater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alma-mater/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never expected to join the ranks of commencement speakers, especially at my alma mater. 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