Good things come in threes. There are three U-M campuses. On Saturday, there were three -Dearborn graduation ceremonies. And Ashwini Balasubramanian, a commencement keynote speaker, said there’s the magical three: the power of big dreams, the power of resilience and the power of a growth mindset.
Balasubramanian, who spoke at the graduate and doctoral ceremony, is general manager – advanced engineering at Harley-Davidson Motor Company and a 2005 master’s in mechanical engineering alum. She said she was “the immigrant kid that could not believe her fortune of being here at Dearborn.” Since she was a child, she noticed things often come in threes — and it became her favorite number.
“I am an engineer, so I love to dig into the science behind the workings of the world. It so happens that there is a scientific reason for the No. 3 being everywhere around us. No. 3 is the smallest number for a recognizable pattern for our brains,” she said.
“As you embark on this new chapter of your lives, armed with the power of big dreams, the power of resilience, and the power of a growth mindset, remember that the journey ahead will be filled with twists and turns, triumphs and tribulations. But never forget the potential that lies within you – discover your own three inner strengths giving you the power to shape your own destiny, to make your mark on the world, and to inspire others to do the same.”
Nearly 1,200 grads earning 1,201 degrees — cheered on by their families and friends — were recognized for their academic accomplishments during three separate 90-minute ceremonies at the Fieldhouse. The graduate ceremony took place at 5 p.m., and two undergraduate ceremonies took place at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
