By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, Could 18, 2026
Picture credit score: Jon Rou/LMU
Venus Williams shared household knowledge as a commencement present.
The previous world No. 1 served as keynote speaker at Loyola Marymount College’s 2026 undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, Could sixteenth.
4-time Olympic gold-medal champion Venus spoke a couple of very important present her mother and father, Richard and Oracene, gave her and the knowledge gained from her distinguished profession on the professional circuit the place she rose to world No. 1 in singles and doubles.
“One of many biggest presents my mother and father gave me was my self-belief,” Venus stated in her speech.
An assertive baseliner in tennis, Venus urged graduates to “Go for the Win” and proactively pursue objectives and goals with enthusiasm of an athlete going through a problem.
“Nobody goes to say you’ve deserved it since you had been a pleasant individual, or ‘isn’t it time on your fortunate break?’” Venus advised graduates, households, and LMU group members gathered in Sunken Backyard for undergraduate graduation. “The wins go to those that go for it.”
Picture credit score: Jon Rou/LMU
In a speech that LMU college students stated “blended humor, vulnerability, and hard-earned classes, Venus inspired graduates to embrace lifelong development, confront worry and self-doubt, and pursue their objectives with intention and resilience – describing the mindset as a blueprint for “successful massive.”
The seven-time Grand Slam champion stated main losses of taught her greater than superb victories.
“In failure you be taught a lot extra about your self than you ever would successful,” Venus stated. “For those who haven’t failed, you haven’t tried, and for those who haven’t pushed exhausting sufficient, you took the protected route.
“It’s unrealistic to assume you gained’t be afraid or you’ll by no means fail or make errors. However it’s doable to border worry and put it instead.”
The five-time Wimbledon champion is a school graduate, who usually took break day from the WTA Tour within the fall to take school courts. Venus earned a Bachelor of Science in Enterprise Administration from Indiana College East in August of 2015. Venus repeatedly inspired graduates to set objectives and have fun their commencement day with a deep sense of satisfaction and gratitude for many who helped them alongside the journey.
Picture credit score: Jon Rou/LMU
“It might be a disservice to you and your exhausting work if we didn’t have fun you at the moment, and the sacrifices you and your family members have made, if we don’t end on something however pure pleasure,” Venus stated. “And I hope you discovered pleasure within the journey that introduced you to this second. That’s why we embrace the method and the sense of satisfaction that comes with accomplishment.”
Watch Venus’ keynote speech to LMU graduates right here:
Almost 3,000 undergraduate, graduate, and regulation college students will take part in graduation weekend at LMU. Media government Ben Sherwood, CEO and writer of The Every day Beast, spoke on the graduate commencement the morning of Sunday, Could 17, and Decide Anthony Devos Johnstone, who serves on america Courtroom of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, spoke on the LMU Loyola Law School Commencement on Sunday afternoon.
