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Boston Strong

Speaker Adrianne Haslet, a professional dancer who lost her left leg below the knee during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, talked about cultivating the strength to overcome obstacles with the support of the Boston community. 

Since her leg injury, Haslet has beaten the odds in stunning fashion, returning to the dance floor and winning her first competition back, as well as running in the 2016 and 2018 Boston marathons. She even appeared on Dancing With The Stars. 

As she reflected on the physical and emotional effort it took for her - a “non-runner” adjusting to life with a prosthetic leg - to attempt the Boston Marathon course for the first time, Haslet praised students for their resilience in the face of the pandemic. 

“Sometimes the hardest part is just getting to the start line. What got me to the finish line is thinking about all the things that got me there. You have to be the one to rally for yourself and have others rally around you.” 

Haslet shared a number of life lessons with the Suffolk community that she had “to learn and relearn” during her recovery.

Haslet closed by telling students: “Your life can change in a matter of 3.5 seconds, but it’s up to you to make every second count after because, believe me, they do.”

“Suffolk’s has never been a typical university experience.”

President Kelly emphasized her excitement for the start of the academic year and the “life-changing educational opportunities” that await students throughout the University. 

“Over the past six months, you have faced extraordinary adversity, disruption and in many cases heartache,” she told students. “And yet, whether you are taking courses online, face-to-face, or both, you have chosen to be a part of this great community. In the face of real challenges, you are choosing to make a better future for yourselves and to make a difference in the world. You are resilient. You are courageous. And you are relentlessly pursuing your dreams. And that, to me, is more than exciting. It is inspiring. 

Kelly acknowledged that this would not be a typical university experience. “Then again, Suffolk’s has never been a typical university experience. We have always been proudly atypical and distinctive,” she said stressing the University’s experiential and creative approach to learning, its urban environment and the adaptability of its students and graduates. “None of that changes with the pandemic.  In fact, we are doubling down on it,” she said.

Kelly stressed that this is a monumental time in this nation’s history for students joining or returning to Suffolk, particularly when it comes to issues such as the public health crisis and racial injustice.

“We as a University have work to do to combat racism and to foster equity,” said the Suffolk president. “This is a transformative moment that requires all of us to act.  We will not stay silent on this issue, but instead, we will continue to take real action toward meaningful change.”