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Dear Grad

Words of Wisdom and Encouragement for Your Next Journey

Author Potter Gift

Hardcover

$19.99 US

Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed | Clarkson Potter

6.21"W x 8.32"H x 0.73"D (15.8 x 21.1 x 1.9 cm) | 15 oz (420 g) | 24 per carton

On sale Apr 27, 2021 | 160 Pages | 9780593240168

Sales rights: World

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Timely and inspiring advice for graduates entering their next phase of life in today’s uncertain world, featuring remarks from iconic cultural figures and celebrities alongside student voices.

Drawing upon the YouTube Originals “Dear Class of 2020” commencement celebration, Dear Grad brings together inspirational speeches and quotes from a galaxy of luminaries including former president Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, Bill and Melinda Gates, BTS, Stephen Colbert, Malala Yousafzai, Bono, John Green, and more in a lively and beautifully illustrated collection.

The book also includes timeless words of encouragement from Alicia Keys, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, former secretary of defense Robert Gates, Hasan Minhaj, Jack Black, and Jimmy Kimmel, among many others, as well as the moving voices and stories of a diverse range of students from across America, offering graduates words of wisdom on how to build resilience, embrace possibilities, and give back to their communities as they embark on the next chapter of their story.

Foreword

Michelle Obama launched the Reach Higher initiative from the White House in May 2014 to inspire students to pursue and complete their education past high school, whether at a four-year college, a two-year community college, or a certificate or training program.

The initiative helps students access the resources and opportunities they need for college success. After the Obamas left office, Reach Higher transitioned to a nonprofit organization—Common App—with Mrs. Obama as the honorary board chair. Common App works to make the college application process easier, more joyful, and truly available to all students, no matter who they are.

Each May, Reach Higher helps to rally students and communities around the nation with a tradition that’s been gaining strength with each passing year: College Signing Day.

Teachers, school counselors, and parents join together to give graduating students a memorable celebration to congratulate their efforts and commitments to continue their education. In the past, Reach Higher’s cornerstone College Signing Day celebrations have included celebrities like John Legend, Tracee Ellis Ross, Bradley Cooper, Zendaya, Camila Cabello, and Conan O’Brien. Mrs. Obama gives an uplifting address. And from coast to coast, communities gather to give each student a sendoff they have earned.

But in 2020, all of that changed.

As schools and businesses closed, as cities and states instituted lockdowns, plans for College Signing Day came to a screeching halt. No one knew if schools would host graduations or if colleges would admit students on time. No one knew if students and families would even want to celebrate. No one knew what the country would feel like by the time graduation season rolled around. But high school students—especially those who are too often counted out—will always hope for a better tomorrow. They will find a way forward for one another—and for themselves.

So, in the face of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, thousands of students, parents, and educators reached out to celebrate all that this class had accomplished. Students in caps and gowns found a way to celebrate virtually while protesting racial inequities. DREAMers shared photos about their journeys to encourage others to always be proud of who they are.

Parents reimagined graduation ceremonies in backyards, playing “Pomp and Circumstance” on cellphone speakers. And teachers, counselors, and principals did what they do best: supporting and encouraging their students, making them feel special for defying the obstacles in their way.

That, far more than any virus, is the legacy of 2020. When special occasions were canceled, and dreams could have been deferred, students, their families, and their schools showed us all that when we come together in common purpose, we really can change the world.

Congratulations, graduates. Keep reaching higher, as high as you can possibly imagine.

Potter Gift, a lifestyle imprint of Penguin Random House, specializes in design, fashion, humor, wellness, stationery, and other paper and gift products. View titles by Potter Gift

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