Kermit the Frog's Inspiring Commencement Speech at University of Maryland

Kermit's Welcome and UMD Connection

• 🐸 Kermit the Frog expresses his thrill to be at the University of Maryland to celebrate the class of 2025, summer class of 2024, and winter class of 2024.
• 🎓 He humorously notes the decorated graduation caps and acknowledges the beautiful evening, promising a "100% chance of frog."
• 🤝 Kermit shares a special connection to UMD through his creator, Jim Henson, who, along with his wife Jane, were proud students there.
• 📍 He mentions the campus statue of himself and Jim Henson, and the nearby legend, Tudo the Turtle, humorously warning graduates not to rub his nose unless they are a fly.

Finding Your People

• 💡 Kermit shares wisdom from Jim Henson about finding your people, emphasizing Henson's talent for collecting and recognizing potential in artists and musicians.
• ✨ Henson taught Kermit that what makes each person unique should always be shared, a principle that led Kermit to surround himself with diverse Muppets.
• 🎭 He stresses that there's a spot for everyone in the show, encouraging appreciation for individuals exactly as they are.
• 🤝 Life is described as a "big messy delightful ensemble piece," and Kermit advises looking around to recognize that friends made now could be lifelong companions.

Taking the Leap Together

• 🚀 Kermit relates "taking the leap" to the frog's natural ability, referencing the graduates' own experiences, like jumping into the McKeldon fountain.
• ⚠️ He recounts a childhood game, "Leapfrog," and warns against the mentality of succeeding by stepping on others, like his cousin Albert.
• 🤝 Instead of jumping over others, Kermit advises reaching out a hand and taking the leap side by side, as life is better when done together.

Making Connections and Staying Connected

• 💼 Kermit acknowledges the graduates' current focus on career and networking connections, as well as anxieties about rent, loans, and the price of eggs.
• ❤️ He highlights the crucial connection to parents, family, and loved ones who supported them, noting that love sticks with you even when apart.
• 🌟 Graduates are encouraged to stay connected to their loved ones, friends, and most importantly, their dreams, no matter how big or impossible they seem.
• 🎬 Kermit concludes by telling graduates to write their own ending, keep believing, keep pretending, and that they are just getting started.