You know California and Florida may have the sunshine but they don't have New York University, am I right? I'd rather get my degree in the rain in New York any day. I want to start by saying thank you to President John Sexton, Chairman Martin Lipton and to Mary Schmidt Campbell, the dean of my alma mater, the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. And to all of this year's graduates and their families and friends for allowing me to share this occasion with them, I would also like to congratulate the other honorary degree recipients that are being recognized here today.

So class of 2010, you may not remember but I have not forgotten that we have an appointment to meet four years ago. We had an appointment to meet four years ago as part of your incoming freshman orientation program and I want you to know the truth that back in the late summer of 2005, it didn't work out because I was unable to book an appropriately intimate venue for that event. So the moment I learned that new Yankee stadium was free, I thought, "Perfect. Now we can have that private and meaningful chat about your futures I have so been looking forward all these years."

Several years have gone by since I was where you are today, there's that phrase "When I was where you are today." And today I can only remember three things at any one time. So there are three things I want to share with you today. And they are all about commitment. Today ends the successful fulfillment of one commitment you've made that begins the consideration of others you will be asked to make. I would like you to consider that when you commit to something or someone and it proves to be unfulfilling by your measure, that is painful. But in my life I've learned that when you do not commit, you do not risk and you discover you should have, that is even more consequential. The myth of the risk-free life is just that: a myth.

First I believe you must commit to loving and caring for the people in your lives with real respect and compassion. Commit to your family and your friends. Commit to marriage and having children. Families, whatever their composition in our society today, are where we all come from. Share the best of who you are with the next generation, the next. Commit to your parents. One day, you will fully understand what your parents did for you and you will want to thank them while they can still see you and hear you.

Second, I want you to commit to yourselves - your health, your opinions, your creative self expression, your spiritual growth and or spiritual devotion, to your own joy. For example, only recently I began serving as the radio announcer for the New York Philharmonic here in New York - an opportunity that has provided me with more satisfaction than I ever imagined. For some, commit to further education. I once dreamed of attending law school but took another path - but took another path. (applause) Many here are eager to enter the job market to put on their skates and hit the ice. And I know today that you could never go wrong with more school, especially when that school is New York University. (applause)

And lastly, I want you to commit to our society. Whether you one day you run for president of the United States or president of your book club, whether you serve as Secretary of Education or serve in a local school board. The systems and organizations that operate our increasingly complex nation and the world require the efforts of all of you sitting here today. America runs on capitalism and democracy in an often conflicting arrangement. The success of that arrangement requires the work of the dedicated and honorable Americans who will aggressively protect what we have in this country. And when you look at the world today, even considering America's problems, we still have a great deal to protect. Protecting what we have means giving back what we are striving to get ahead.

I am deeply, deeply honored to accept this - or to be presented this degree from my alma mater and I am very, very happy and very, very touched to be able to share this experience to all of you here today. Congratulations to all of you and God bless.