2025 Commencement Address by Orlando Bloom

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!  

My sincere thanks to President Feasel for the warm welcome and for the privilege of joining you all on this special occasion.

As it happens, this is not my first time on this beautiful campus. I was actually here in 2004, to film the movie “Elizabethtown”, directed by Cameron Crowe. We filmed scenes in Founders Hall and around campus. I have a distinct memory of how shiny and new the campus was, but today it looks even more beautiful! I am sure the bright minds of all the students, such as yourselves, who have walked through these grounds over the years have no doubt added to its charm and character.

Will you allow me a moment to take this in?

What a gift it is to stand here with you, the graduating Class of 2025. If only I had attended Soka University. Like Pinnochio I could have been a real boy – instead of making my living in the world of make believe. Now, that’s a thought. 

Are there any students here from the UK? Happy to have you here representing! One is better than none. Let’s hope we more international students coming to America. 

I imagine you are all feeling a mixture of curiosity, excitement and, I hope, a sense of openness to all that lies ahead of you as you embark upon this next chapter of your lives. 

How fortunate you are to have received your education here at Soka University. It has provided you with a remarkable foundation and a springboard from which you are now poised to leap into your future. 

I still recall the overwhelming sense of pride, joy, and relief that I felt upon graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama — in a back brace, no less. At the end of my second year, while still in my teens, I fell three floors and broke my back. Yes, I was extraordinarily fortunate to have survived the fall, and with my spinal cord intact. 

During my first four days in hospital, I was told that I might never walk again. Thus began a process of reflection that made me look at certain patterns in my life that had led to a series of accidents, culminating in this near-fatal experience. It was remarkable that after the operation I was able to walk out of hospital on crutches just 12 days later. 

The months that followed were difficult, especially since I had always led an active life. I felt restricted and in pain and came to the realization that this would either be the breaking or the making of me. The recovery gave me the time and space to assess on what was good and meaningful in my life and how I wanted to live going forward. Ultimately, it would be up to me to determine my outcome. 

I now consider this potentially disastrous life-changing incident as a great reminder to live with gratitude, a sense of purpose and to lead with my best foot forward each day. To reflect — rather than rush through life. It taught me that there is always an opportunity to transform pain, whether it be physical or emotional, into the great good fortune of one’s life. 

Reflecting on my training at Guildhall, much of it centered around stepping out of my comfort zone — and getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. For me, public speaking, or even reciting lines, poetry or prose in class, posed a particular challenge as someone with dyslexia. Learning to navigate and overcome that, throughout my life, has been a personal journey of growth and evolution. 

My personal philosophical view has evolved through my practice of Buddhism, which I embraced when I was 16 years old. It has been grounding for me, giving me hope and confidence through everything. It has been the foundation from which I built my life.  No matter what it may be, it is vital that each of us finds a philosophy or practice that works best in guiding our own lives.  Education is undoubtedly a vital anchor but equally so is having a philosophy by which to live. 

Life is a continual learning curve, and our education never ends. Whether in moments of hardship or ease, life presents us with continual and sometimes relentless opportunities for growth. 

Here is what I learned: Everything starts with you. Your inner life matters, profoundly. It’s important to develop strong instincts — knowing, in each circumstance, what is required to create your own joyful and fulfilling life. 

I have had the great privilege of meeting the founder of this university, Daisaku Ikeda, in 2006, in Japan. I remember every detail as if it were yesterday. The moment I saw him for the first time, I felt an immediate and profound connection — as though we had met many times before, perhaps in other lifetimes.  It was an extraordinary day. We were at a beautiful location in Nagano, talking, sharing thoughts on life, my mother, my family, and the eternal nature of existence. It will always be one of the most meaningful days of my life. 

During our time together, he shared the following with me: 

“The playwright August Strindberg wrote: ‘The actor must control the role and not let the role control him.’ The important thing is to remain true to yourself. That’s exactly what you are doing. You don’t define yourself solely in terms of your profession as an actor, or your work — that world is not enough for you. For you are dedicating your life to others, to society, and to the eternal philosophy of Buddhism. That is a very noble, very admirable attitude. It is the most worthwhile kind of life there is.” 

And he also shared this passage from Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline”: 

Fear no more the lightning-flash, 
Nor the all-dreaded thunder-stone; 
Fear not slander, censure rash 

His encouragement and wisdom continue to guide me to work on my inner revolution — and be of service to others in my own way. 

In my mid-20s, I was honoured to be invited to serve as an International UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador — an opportunity I still regard as one of the great gifts of my life. It has enabled me to witness, first-hand, the plight of children in distant corners of the world. The depth of suffering endured by so many children is growing ever more around the globe. 

In this role, I have sought to speak out and bring into focus children’s rights, to advocate for their mental health, and to champion their dreams and their futures! I have been humbled and inspired by the remarkable resilience and strength of every child I have encountered. 

One thing is clear, young people everywhere need someone to truly hear them. A single moment of genuine connection can alter a person’s destiny. It can transform a time of deep darkness into a spark of hope and ignite a dream for the future. 

I would encourage all of you: Whenever the opportunity arises to be of service to others, to jump at the chance without hesitation. Life is filled with highs and lows.  I have experienced moments when I felt as though I were standing atop the world, and others when I was at my lowest ebb. 

There have been times when I found myself reliant on external forces, such as fame, popularity and image, and subject to judgement based on those views. In a world full of noise and distraction, discernment becomes not only valuable but essential. 

One truth I have come to embrace is the importance of not taking things personally. It is in such moments that qualities such as wisdom, courage, compassion, and empathy reveal their true significance. 

In all things, simply do your best. This lifetime is yours alone — to discover, to shape, and to reveal all of which you are capable. At first, your vision might be modest. But as you grow, so too will your vision, until one day it forms a legacy — one that encompasses every area of your life, including your family, your partner, your friendships, and your career. Who’s to say? Perhaps you will find your path in the arts or build something entirely of your own. Life is not a dress rehearsal; every moment matters. 

It is in our most trying hours that we must dig deep and find gratitude, seeing in each challenge as a lesson, an opportunity to summon forth the best version of ourselves. Ultimately, it all depends on how we choose to see our circumstances and what we decide to make of them. 

As you embark upon this new chapter of your life, you may be contemplating higher education, launching a business, beginning a new relationship or simply navigating the range of emotions that accompany life’s changes and possibilities. 

There are a few touchstones that have served me-well that I endeavour to keep in mind each day: 

(1) Having a spiritual practice and seeking the guidance of a great mentor in life; 

(2) Listening closely to matters of the heart; follow your heart 

(3) Taking action to build your career and become self-reliant; 

(4) Breaking a sweat — be it running, going to the gym, or yoga; 

and finally 

(5) Avoid excessive drinking – a little this weekend is OK. Avoid harmful substances. They’ll only lead you astray. 

I’m sure like me, you will be told NO many times throughout your journey. The challenge — and the opportunity — is to learn how to transform a NO into a YES. I have faced many such moments myself. It is also vital to discern whether a NO or YES is in alignment with the sort of life you wish to lead. Sometimes a NO is a blessing and a form of protection. At times, doing what we want may seem to be the simpler path, but to live with integrity often means to live collaboratively and remain in the service of others. 

The friends we choose inevitably shape the way we live — so choose wisely. True friendship and having a community to lean on are not only a source of support but also a way to grow into someone who gives back to your community. 

I am now 48 years old, and a father to a 14-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter. Everything I have learned and continue to learn from my mentor — resonates more deeply with each passing year. 

There is a message that Ikeda Sensei once shared with the youth of the UK that I have always returned to. 

Life is a drama. 

The works of the great dramatist William Shakespeare (1564-1616) are played out on a cosmic scale. Shakespeare, who introduced such a diversity of lives on stage, came to perceive human life itself as a stage. 

He wrote: 

All the World’s a stage, 
And all the men and women merely players; 
They have their exits and their entrances; 
Therefore, in our limited life spans, let us perform an immortal drama. 

And since life is a drama, please brilliantly perform a role that only you can play — passionately, freely and confidently. 

He went on to say: 

A great future lies ahead of you! 
You must fix your eyes on that future, never losing sight of your goal for even a single moment. 
Centuries, tens of centuries have waited for you to arrive and have been preparing for you.  
You are the ones who have NOW appeared so mystically. 
Your victory will be the victory of humanism. 
Your defeat would be the defeat of hope. 
Hence you must win in everything! 

And so, your new journey begins! My warmest congratulations to the extraordinary Class of 2025! Thank you for having me and I wish you well. I’ll be praying for you all.