Scott Coltrane, the interim senior vice president and provost at the University of Oregon recited a Friedrich Nietzsche quote to the summer graduating class, saying “he who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.”

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 41 percent of students graduate in four years, while 66 percent of students graduate in six. For some, all that they need is the extra summer term to finish their requirements.

Olivia Garrett, an early intervention major at the University’s college of education, still has ten more weeks of class left to officially graduate, but was able to be a part of the ceremony.

“I’m feeling pretty excited, it’s nice to celebrate the rest of my cohorts finishing,” Garrett said.

For some graduates, the feeling of achievement was finally becoming a reality, especially for Christopher Hayes.

“I’m just proud as hell to be here, didn’t think I would finally make it,” Hayes said.

Hayes was dressed for the occasion in a football jersey, with shoes, socks and shorts covered in Oregon Os. Although freshly graduated, Hayes wasted no time when it came to his future and already has two businesses started up.

Throughout the speeches given by Coltrane, as well as University President Michael Gottfredson, the most common piece of advice was to relish and enjoy the moments following graduation.

Within Gottfredson’s letter in the graduation program, he describes the ceremony as a commencement due to the nature of the event. Rather than a finishing of a chapter of life, it is only the beginning of another.

As Coltrane said to the graduating class, “Each of you has mastered the standing, walking, running, climbing and dancing parts. Now it’s time for you to go out into the world and fly.”