Choosing Optimism

“We don’t get to choose the world we graduate into, but we do get to choose how we frame our circumstances.”- Sundar Pichai

I answered the last question on my math practice test and stood up. I had 20 minutes to get ready and walk to Stanford Stadium for my sister’s graduation. In the rush, I forgot to apply cologne—a staple in my daily routine.
Upon entering the stadium, my eyes were immediately drawn to the food area, where the menu was filled with breakfast classics. I ordered biscuits and gravy, and they were surprisingly amazing.
With breakfast in hand, I could finally slow down and take in the festive atmosphere. I settled into my seat and looked out at the sea of black robes, broken up by bright red sashes and the occasional splash of yellow. The colorful flags hanging above the stage and the symmetry of everything around me made the ceremony feel even more special. Stanford is a beautiful campus, and the graduation ceremony was no different.
Ever since I watched Steve Jobs’ Stanford commencement speech on YouTube, I have looked forward to the inspiration that graduation speeches can provide. This year, I was excited to hear Sundar Pichai’s commencement address, and he did not disappoint. Here are some of my biggest takeaways from his speech, along with my interpretation of them.

Pichai’s first key: Choose optimism.

“And that’s exactly what I mean by choosing optimism. It’s about reframing for the positive: where I saw brown, she saw golden… I found myself adopting this California optimism.”

I visit California during the summers and for special occasions like my sister’s graduation, I still notice little things that longtime Californians take for granted. One of those is how they describe their dry hills as golden, not brown.

Pichai’s remark reminded me of a hike I did with my sister on the Stanford Dish Trail last summer. Looking around, I had said, “This dry, brown grass is probably why wildfires are so common in California.”
She laughed and corrected me. “They don’t call it brown, they call it golden. We’re in the Golden State.”
That simple comment stuck with me. Pichai uses this idea to describe what he calls California optimism: choosing to see opportunity where others see obstacles. Sometimes optimism isn’t about ignoring reality. It’s about choosing the perspective that helps you move forward.

Pichai’s second key: Gravitate toward harder things.

“And even if you miss meeting the high goals you set, you’ll still achieve something great.”

Anyone can complete the easy tasks. They’re more comfortable and often more enjoyable in the moment.
But I always believe that the more effort you put into something, the more you get out of it. I could spend hours solving math problems I already know how to do and get every answer correct, but I wouldn’t be learning much. The harder problems—the ones that make me struggle and think—are the ones that actually help me grow.
The same applies outside the classroom. I run cross country, and training with longer distances ultimately makes racing a 5K feel much easier.

Pichai’s third key: Do the things that excite you.

“When all else is equal, do the thing that excites you.”

Life is too short to spend time doing things simply because everyone else is.
Build your own path. Explore your own interests. The common activities will always be there, and there’s nothing wrong with them. But if something genuinely excites you, pursue it. It’s much easier to put in the effort when you’re working on something you truly enjoy.

To conclude, it’s all about how you choose to look at life and how you react to the things around you. Where some people see brown, Californians see golden. We don’t get to choose every circumstance we face, but we do get to choose how we frame it. And sometimes, that change in perspective is what changes everything.