Future‑Ready Grad Talks About Choosing Paths

Hilary Duff stepped onto the field at Fenway Park to speak with Northeastern University graduates about what she has learned from a long career in entertainment. She shared that the biggest lesson was learning to listen to her own desires instead of taking every offer that came her way. This shift helped her return to music and release a new album that reached number three on the Billboard 200, the highest spot she’s achieved since 2007.

“I still feel trying to figure it out,” she admitted, but praised the students’ formal education, noting that her own schooling stopped after third grade. She argued that real learning happens when you mix experience with structured study, and that success depends on the choices we make.

President Joseph Aoun warned graduates that they are stepping into a world shaped by artificial intelligence, political unrest, and global conflict. He urged them to remember that technology can’t replace the skills they build now and praised their confidence in facing uncertainty.

Students entered Fenway with excitement, many watching The Lizzie McGuire movie for a last‑minute dose of nostalgia.

• Ellie Early, who will join CORE Creatives after graduation, highlighted how the university’s co‑op program helped her build connections and try new roles. She also mentioned family ties to the school as a motivating factor.
• Steven Nguyen, computer science major, credited the co‑op program for landing him a software engineer job at Fidelity Investments. He praised Northeastern’s diversity, saying it made it easy to find a community whether through classes or clubs. Nguyen added that the school is worth the tuition if one can afford it.
• Siddharth Elferink, an international student, appreciated the inclusive environment at Northeastern, even amid federal visa challenges. He plans to work at a Singapore startup after graduation.
• Kamryn August intends to take two gap years before applying to medical school.

The commencement coincided with a record number of applications, yet recent student protests have highlighted concerns over campus policies and budget cuts. The university’s communications team praised the students’ advocacy as a strength, encouraging them to use all available channels to voice their opinions.