When his first stint as the nation’s top doctor ended abruptly in 2017, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy felt overwhelmingly lost and lonely. 

“I spent months struggling to find direction,” Murthy said during his address at AU’s 146th commencement on Sunday, December 17, in Bender Arena. “In addition to losing my community at work, I had also allowed my ties to family and friends to diminish when I was in the job, the cumulative effect of many small moments of putting work ahead of the people I loved. At this point, I wanted to call them, but I was ashamed to ask for support when I hadn’t exactly been a supportive friend to them while in office.”

Murthy—who was again appointed US Surgeon General in March 2021 by President Joe Biden—is the vice admiral of the US Public Health Commissioned Corps, leading more than 6,000 public health officers who serve vulnerable and underserved populations across the country and around the globe.

Murthy’s remarks at AU came on the heels of his We Are Made to Connect college tour and the launch of his 5-for-5 Connection Challenge, aimed at combating the loneliness epidemic and helping Americans forge bonds in their daily lives. One in two Americans wrestle with loneliness today, according to Murthy, an experience that takes a significant toll on our physical health. In those difficult moments, love—which Murthy called “the world’s oldest medicine”—is the antidote.

“It took more than a year of struggling with the pain and shame of loneliness, but I eventually found my footing,” Murthy said. “I didn’t do it on my own . . . I healed because of the people in my life. At a moment where I felt like my soul had a tear in it, they patched me up with their acts of love.

“Your ability to give and receive love is your greatest power,” Murthy continued. “It is what will sustain you on every step of the journey ahead.”

Murthy’s message of resilience and hope was a fitting one for the 1,700 changemakers who graduated this fall, including the 900 or so graduates who participated in commencement. Members of the Class of 2023—who join a global community of alumni, 145,000 Eagles strong—navigated myriad challenges during their AU careers, including a global pandemic.

“During your time here, you didn’t just exist, you persisted,” said President Sylvia Burwell, donning her signature AU red and blue cowboy boots. “And as part of this community, you are driven to change the world. As graduates of American University, you understand the complexities, the challenges, and opportunities that lie ahead. You all have what it takes to change the world.”

The pride in those changemakers’ accomplishments was evident in the bouquets, balloons, and shouts of adoration that filled Bender Arena. After the graduates flipped their tassels, it manifested in hugs, tears, and beaming family and friends gathered on the quad.

Among them were Theresa and Stuart Ott, who stopped to snap a photo with their daughter, Michelle Ott, CAS/MFA ’23. “This is a whole new chapter of her life,” said a grinning Stuart Ott.

After earning an undergraduate degree in chemistry, Michelle Ott decided she wanted to pursue creative writing. AU was the right place for her to do that. She sharpened her skills and juggled full-time school and work. “She’s amazing,” said Theresa Ott. “And she maintained a 4.0.”

Long after a foggy and overcast graduation day on campus, the memories of the accomplishment will remain. So too will love, said Murthy, who toward the end of his remarks asked members of the community to place thier hand over their heart, close their eyes, and breathe deeply.

“Think about the people in your life who have supported you on your journey to this moment—your dear family, your close friends, your treasured mentors. The people who have been with you to celebrate your moments of joy and who have showed up during times of disappointment and pain. The people who stood by you when you lost faith in yourself and reminded you who you are. Feel their love flowing through you, strengthening you, guiding you, and filling you with peace. Know that you are deserving of this love. And know that love is always there for you whether they are with you or not—because it resides within you.  

“Now,” he instructed AU's Class of 2023, “open your eyes.”