VIDEO: Central Falls' Viola Davis Urges RI Graduates to Pursue Significance More Than Success
GoLocalProv Lifestyle Team
VIDEO: Central Falls' Viola Davis Urges RI Graduates to Pursue Significance More Than Success
“For those of you who may have missed Academy award, Emmy award and Tony award-winning Rhode Island treasure Viola Davis and her personal message to the RI graduating class of 2020 and to all of us, let me share it with you,” said Steve Feinberg with the Rhode Island Film and TV Office on Tuesday.
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Davis’ Message
“You’re still a place I call home, as much as my career has taken me to New York, California. Rhode Island is where most of my memories were formed. Rhode Island is me,” said Davis.
“I’m hunkering down just like the rest of you,” she said. “I’m feeling very anxious, not only because we’re going into a place of new normal, and change — change comes with a lot of anxiety and chaos — but also because of the suffering that is out there. I feel the suffering of others...the gross inequity that is happening out there.”
Davis spoke to how despite being at the top of her field, she still found herself questioning her purpose.
“We all work for that big ’S’ — success — and as soon as we hit it we think this is going to be it,” said Davis. “But we forget that’s not the top. The top of where we really want to hit is significance.”
“It’s an opportunity to live a life of vision…and hope,” said Davis of the enormous change -- and uncertainty -- facing this year's graduating class. “At the end of the day, it’s what we give to humanity that becomes our legacy.”
“What’s your race, what’s your dash, what’s your baton you’re going to pass?”