CLAS congratulates Ananya Munjal (2017 BS), Finalist for Commencement speaker

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Ananya Munjal Ananya Munjal, a 2017 graduate of the University of Iowa, was a finalist in the selection process for Commencement speaker at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Commencement ceremony held on December 16.

Munjal, a pre-med student from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in human physiology, as well as the Undergraduate Certificate in Writing.

Her activities and interests while at Iowa were many and diverse. She was a Writing Fellow Peer Tutor with the Department of Rhetoric and a Research Assistant in the lab of Dr. Matthew Pothoff in the UI Carver College of Medicine, where she contributed original research to create constitutively active ChREBP, a glucose-activated transcription factor involved in the development of metabolic syndrome.

Among other accomplishments, Munjal was also Creative Writing Editor for Fools Magazine, a student-run print and online publication; President of Medicus Premed Society; a Dance Liaison with the Indian Student Association; and Secretary with MAPS, the Minority Association of Premed Students.

Munjal's Commencement speech submission is below:

I’d like to welcome all the parents, faculty, and students gathered here today. As you know by now, the University of Iowa is an incredible place. I could praise this school for another four years, describe its strong academic history, passionate students, and dedicated faculty. I could detail the magic moments here at Iowa—and there have been many. But I struggle with how to best capture the enthusiasm at this school, the feel of it, the energy. I am tempted to say that it is intangible, but it is not. It is very tangible, very real, and thanks to all of you before me, it is a family.

Standing here today in front of you, I think back a few years ago, to orientation on our very first week of freshman year. Our orientation leaders would frequently shout out “On Iowa!’ and anyone in the general vicinity would immediately reply, “Go Hawks!”. I recall being amazed at the friendliness of strangers, and this sense of inclusiveness throughout campus. This was the first time I truly felt like a part of the community here at the University of Iowa.

            I continued to feel this sense of community throughout my college career. One of the very first classes I took my first semester was Creative Writing, and our first assignment was to submit a writing sample of fiction. In a letter of feedback my teacher gave to me, she said (and I quote) “There are some things that I feel can be taught, and others which I do not think can be, which I can best describe as instinct”. While she was speaking about writing, I have felt this to be true throughout my experience at the university.

            For the things that can be taught, we owe gratitude to our faculty. Thank you to the professors who devoted countless hours of their days to filling our minds. You have empowered us in the classroom, encouraged us in office hours, and been patient with us when we ask if you can change our C pluses to A minuses. Thank you to TAs who work tirelessly to making sure we understand our coursework, and reassuring us that we are more capable than we know. Thank you to lab instructors, academic advisors, and mentors. Without educators, no career is possible. Because of you, this room is filled with future doctors, engineers, journalists, politicians, and artists. You have helped create a more educated community, and we will never be able to thank you enough for the gift of knowledge.

            For the things that cannot be taught, instinct, we thank our parents and families—both blood-related and otherwise. Many of you have traveled long distances to be here today, and all of you have sacrificed more than we know to get us to where we are now. As the proud daughter of two hardworking immigrants and a first-generation American, I have seen the results of hard work and perseverance first-hand. Parents, you have all been incredible role models, and have instilled within us determination and a strong work ethic. You are our most important support system— the first people we call with good news, and the most comforting shoulder to cry on in hard times. You have showed us how to be good people, which is the most valuable example of all. We hope we have made you proud.

            Most importantly, I would like to thank you, my peers. As a student studying human physiology and creative writing, collaboration has permeated every aspect of my college career. However, the most important lessons I’ve learned at Iowa have not been found between the covers of a textbook, but rather within the interactions I have had with all of you. Class of 2017, you have inspired me and pushed me to work harder than I ever could have imagined. I’ll never forget a time freshman year when I did poorly on a biology exam. After getting our papers back, I was visibly upset, and a girl sitting next to me turned to me and said, “Don’t worry about it, next time we’ll study together”. That girl, Emma, went on to become my best friend, and will be graduating alongside me today. This is the essence who you are. You are people who offer to study with strangers, who start art magazines, who dance for 24 hours without rest to raise money for children with cancer. You value collaboration over competition, and while the road to where we are today has been challenging, together we have helped each other grow. Some of you are student athletes who juggle workouts and training with a full course load, still managing to succeed academically. I commend you. Some of you have families of your own, and balance being a parent with going to school. I commend you. Many of you work hard to support yourselves, fitting in study hours between multiple part-time jobs. I commend you. A special shout out to those of you who work at Jimmy John's and have brought me sandwiches at two in the morning during an all-nighter. I especially commend you.

Thank you all for motivating me every day. Iowa is a place that attracts students who believe in their education, trust in the power of their dreams, and love learning. Over the last four years, we have rallied, standing up for what we believe in and working to create change. We have cheered each other on as Hawkeyes both in athletics and academics— many of us should be paying rent at the library for the amount of time we spend there. You not only tolerate diversity, you celebrate it. You have showed me that it is not our political affiliation, faith, or country of origin that defines who we are, but rather the kindness and determination within us. You are ambitious, intelligent, and driven, but most importantly you are good-hearted.

Congratulations Class of 2017, my hope for you is that you keep learning all the things that can be taught, and continue to guide others with your instinct. For the last time as undergraduates, I hope you will join me in saying, “On Iowa…. (Go Hawks)!”

—Ananya Munjal (2017 BS)


The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers about 70 majors across the humanities; fine, performing and literary arts; natural and mathematical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; and communication disciplines. About 15,000 undergraduate and nearly 2,000 graduate students study each year in the college’s 37 departments, led by faculty at the forefront of teaching and research in their disciplines. The college teaches all Iowa undergraduates through the college's general education program, CLAS CORE. About 80 percent of all Iowa undergraduates begin their academic journey in CLAS. The college confers about 60 percent of the university's bachelor's degrees each academic year.