Wearing my black gown, square cap and a light blue hood, I received my MA degree in international economics and finance. Thomas Friedman, foreign affairs columnist for the "New York Times" and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, gave the commencement speech in the gymnasium, filled with hundreds or thousands. He spoke of how he became a journalist and what it means to be a good one. In 1975 he graduated from Brandeis, as I did today. He finished his captivating talk with a quote from Mark Twain, abused many times, but very powerful in his mouth: "Work as if you don't need the money, Dance like nobody’s watching, Love like you’ve never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it’s heaven on earth." I must have forgotten the order and probably some lines, but the simple truth of these words affected me. I would be ready to go out there and do good deeds for the well-being of humanity.