Despite the threat of rain, UMass Dartmouth came together to celebrate the 116th commencement on Friday, May 13.

The early morning ceremony opened with the banners being carried in to "Pomp and Circumstance," students garbed in blue and black filing in to take their seats.

In her speech, student speaker Tayla Vincent, graduating with a BS in Accounting and Management, reminisced on the two words she heard the most while in college—“good luck.” Students are wished good luck before taking exams, while trying to secure the best housing, and a myriad of other situations, she said.

“Having good luck means getting everything you desire without having to work for it—and that’s not true,” Vincent added. “Getting a college degree is a mix between good luck and hard work.”

Though he has only been part of the UMass Dartmouth community for two months, Interim Chancellor Peyton “Randy” Helm was given the honor of honorary degree recipient and commencement address.

Helm lauded the families, neighbors and teachers who supported their students.

He described higher education as “a public good worthy of the commonwealth and the nation’s investment.”

Helm passed on his top tips to graduates on how to best pursue a successful future. His first and most surprising tip: “Don’t follow your dreams.”

“It’s actually okay to have dreams but it’s even more important to have a plan,” Helm said. “Make a plan. It should be bold and aspirational, but it should be flexible.”

Helm also reminded the graduates to never compromise their integrity, listen to others, “say thank you. Say it often, say it sincerely,” and “pursue happiness, but do it wisely.”

The fanfare continued into the afternoon with the Colleges of Engineering, Nursing, and Visual and Performing Arts. and the School for Marine Science and Technology.

In her speech, commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient Roslyn Brock, the national chair of the NAACP, commended the millennial generation student activists.

"Massachusetts has always been a leader in challenging this nation," Brock said. "This generation, your millennial generation, is no exception. As injustices, inequity, and increased consciousness have given birth to a new generation of college and high school students... who boldly proclaim 'no justice, no peace.'"

"What would you do if you could not fail?" Brock asked before urging graduates to go bravely into their post-grad lives.

Perseverance is what carried many of the students through their experience at UMass, and the speakers reminded everyone in attendance that it was the most important thing they would take away in their lives after UMass Dartmouth.

“We’re corsairs. We can handle it," Helm said. "We will stand tall and proud and firm, just like that wind turbine that never turns, no matter how hard the wind blows. That’s our symbol," he added to uproarious laughter.

The 116th commencement ceremony will continue from May 14 to May 16. For the complete itinerary, click here.