Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering the commencement address at Hunter College
She is a model, actress, political activist, and bestselling author.
But now, Emily Ratajkowski can add a college speaker to her list of accomplishments.
The ‘humbled’ actress, 31, delivered an inspiring commencement speech to the class of 2023 at Hunter College in New York City on Thursday.
Class act! Emily Ratajkowski delivered an inspirational commencement speech to the class of 2023 at Hunter College in New York City on Thursday
Emily, who briefly attended UCLA before dropping out, donned a purple cap and gown as she addressed the winter graduates from the podium.
In her speech, Emily recalled her decision to drop out of college to pursue a lucrative modeling career in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis.
‘I never made it to my own college graduation. I retired in the aftermath of the 2008 economic crash, choosing financial security hoping modeling would give me what I really wanted to do, which was learn and do things.
‘Modeling paid more than my friends were making working service industry jobs and I was terrified of having to carry student loan debt. I also knew that my window for this opportunity was limited: everyone reminded me that women have an expiration date. So I gave up my education and instead concentrated on work.’
![Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering the commencement address at Hunter College 2 Taking the stage: Emily, who briefly attended UCLA before dropping out, donned a purple cap and gown as she addressed the winter graduates from the podium.](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1674172911_61_Emily-Ratajkowski-dons-a-purple-cap-and-gown-while-delivering.jpg)
Taking the stage: Emily, who briefly attended UCLA before dropping out, donned a purple cap and gown as she addressed the winter graduates from the podium.
![Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering the commencement address at Hunter College 4 'Humbled and honored': Ratajkowski beamed as he celebrated class of 2023](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1674172921_134_Emily-Ratajkowski-dons-a-purple-cap-and-gown-while-delivering.jpg)
![Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering the commencement address at Hunter College 6 Red or not! She rocked a daring pair of crimson booties](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1674172936_671_Emily-Ratajkowski-dons-a-purple-cap-and-gown-while-delivering.jpg)
‘Humbled and honored’: Ratajkowski beamed as he celebrated class of 2023
She also opened up about her nearly two-year-old son Sylvester, whom she shares with her ex Sebastian Bear-McClard.
‘The daily washing of my son’s bottles in the sink, waking up like I did this morning, at 4:30 in the morning, to take his temperature in the darkness of his room. The countless hours holding him to my chest until he falls asleep again. The thousand diapers I’ve changed.
Emily urged the graduates to find time to “pause” and take note of their progress.
‘Find the moments to pause, to reflect on where you are and how far you’ve come. It’s easy to stand here and say that. And I’ll tell you what’s harder: practicing it myself.
![Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering the commencement address at Hunter College 8 1674172948 261 Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1674172948_261_Emily-Ratajkowski-dons-a-purple-cap-and-gown-while-delivering.jpg)
“The thousand diapers I’ve changed”: he also referred to his almost two-year-old son Sylvester, whom he shares with his ex Sebastian Bear-McClard
![Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering the commencement address at Hunter College 10 'Find the moments to pause': Emily urged graduates to find time to 'pause' and take note of their progress](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1674172952_279_Emily-Ratajkowski-dons-a-purple-cap-and-gown-while-delivering.jpg)
‘Find the moments to pause’: Emily urged graduates to find time to ‘pause’ and take note of their progress
He also praised the graduates for the many obstacles they overcome in their pursuit of an education.
‘I learned that this class of graduates is especially remarkable. That there are particular challenges and unique circumstances for all of you.
‘He told me about students who worked multiple jobs while earning degrees, battling illness, people who are the first in their families to graduate from college, and those who had to learn English as a second language.
![Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering the commencement address at Hunter College 12 Achieved: Ratajkowski is a New York Times bestselling author, influencer, model, and actress.](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1674172956_535_Emily-Ratajkowski-dons-a-purple-cap-and-gown-while-delivering.jpg)
Achieved: Ratajkowski is a New York Times bestselling author, influencer, model, and actress.
![Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering the commencement address at Hunter College 14 Strike a Pose: She smiled as she posed in her purple cap and gown](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1674172959_293_Emily-Ratajkowski-dons-a-purple-cap-and-gown-while-delivering.jpg)
Strike a Pose: She smiled as she posed in her purple cap and gown
‘I heard about students who are mothers, who took time away from their education and somehow found the courage and ability to go back to school as a senior.
“I feel very honored and honored to be before all of you today.”
Emily gave the graduates yet another recognition as she posed with the school mascot.
![Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering the commencement address at Hunter College 16 It is an honor! He posed with Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab.](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1674172964_595_Emily-Ratajkowski-dons-a-purple-cap-and-gown-while-delivering.jpg)
It is an honor! He posed with Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab.
![Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering the commencement address at Hunter College 18 'Thank you so much for having me': Emily gave the graduates another shout out as she posed with the school's mascot](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1674172971_586_Emily-Ratajkowski-dons-a-purple-cap-and-gown-while-delivering.jpg)
‘Thank you so much for having me’: Emily gave the graduates another shout out as she posed with the school’s mascot
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF ’23!! Thank you so much for having me,’ Emily posted on her IG Stories.
In a press release announcing Emily as this year’s speaker, Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab praised the model as a “renaissance woman for our digital age.”
“We are delighted to have Emily Ratajkowski share her knowledge with our graduates and their families and friends,” he said.
“Her ability to transition from television to modeling to film to best-selling author is a lesson all of our graduates can learn from.”
![Emily Ratajkowski dons a purple cap and gown while delivering the commencement address at Hunter College 20 Trailblazer: In a press release announcing Emily as this year's speaker, Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab praised the model as a](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1674172976_455_Emily-Ratajkowski-dons-a-purple-cap-and-gown-while-delivering.jpg)
Trailblazer: In a press release announcing Emily as this year’s speaker, Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab praised the model as a “renaissance woman for our digital age.”