Passage 1

It’s always struck me that the process of invention is a bit like the process of being a college student. As an inventor, you go into a lab and you have a strong but perhaps vague idea of what you want to achieve. By working hard, experimenting, learning and using the work of those before you—you advance down the road toward discovery. You may not end up where you expected, but if you’ re successful, then begins another difficult process of trying to make your invention work in the world around you. //
    Like inventors, many of you have traveled the same road over the last 4 years at university. The person you are today and the goals you have today may be different from the ones you had when you came here. I believe young people are graduating today into a world filled with more hope and promise than in any other time in history. I know that might sound strange, because we think always of the dangers and challenges around us. But I believe this is an era of great promise and great opportunity.