In her address at Cornell's Senior Convocation, ballet icon Misty Copeland shared her personal journey, highlighting that success is intertwined with struggle. As the first Black woman to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, she urged graduates to embrace their challenges and learn from them. With reflections on her own hardships, including moving several times and starting dance later in life, Copeland reminded the audience to acknowledge their pasts, emphasizing that meaningful achievements arise from enduring both public accolades and private doubts. She praised the value of routine over perfection.
"Success is not the opposite of struggle. It includes struggle. Every person who's ever done something meaningful has had to endure moments of pain, confusion, loneliness and resistance. So, when those big moments come - when you're recognized, when your work is seen, when people start calling your name - don't forget how you got there. Don't let the spotlight erase your history. Let it illuminate it."
"You can be surrounded by applause and still feel unsure. I know what it is to be celebrated publicly and questioned quietly."
"There is power in routine. There is freedom in knowing some of the most extraordinary moments in life are built on the most ordinary hours."
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