“(The chant) is something we can all identify with,” the Lyman Briggs and College of Arts and Letters graduate said.

Haglund, along with about 7,095 other degree candidates, will graduate this weekend, and all were invited to attend the hour and half ceremony, which recognized MSU’s latest graduating class.

At the ceremony, honorary degrees were awarded to MSU alumnus and philanthropist Robert Skandalaris and featured keynote speaker Mary Robinson, the first female president of Ireland.

The commencement ceremonies will continue into the weekend, as MSU’s 17 colleges host their own ceremonies.

In her speech, Robinson stressed the concern that should be placed on climate change and its impact on people across the world.

“My challenge to you is to become dual citizens … to become ambassadors of conscience,” she said to the assembled graduates.

She encouraged students to consider the possible solutions to combat climate change in whatever work they do, although her speech primarily focused on the negative effects of climate change in third world regions across the globe.

After the ceremony, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said Robinson’s message reflects MSU’s international mission, and she hopes the graduates remember MSU’s mission long after graduation.

“We, along with our graduates, continue to advance knowledge and transform lives at home and around nations across the world,” Simon said during the ceremony.

Simon received a check during the event from the Senior Class Council for $32,658 to be used to purchase new mascot costumes for Sparty.

At the ceremony, trustee Joel Ferguson spoke on behalf of the MSU Board of Trustees, congratulating the graduating class.

“Our wish is that you will always be leaders (and) use your intelligence and knowledge generously to improve the quality of life in your community and to advance the common good,” he said.

One of Haglund’s favorite parts of the ceremony was the senior class’ response, when Paul Havern spoke on behalf of the graduates.

In Havern’s speech, he gave advice to his sister Megan, a James Madison freshman, about how to get the most out of her time at MSU.

His advice ranged from tidbits such as, “don’t be afraid to talk to someone new because you’re all new and you’re all scared,” to “just because you can skip class doesn’t mean you should,” and “take a lot of pictures, but don’t put them all on facebook and …when eating Insomnia Cookies, know your limits,” he said.

Haglund said the speech made her realize that it won’t be acceptable to stay at a coffee shop until 2:00 a.m. as she has in the past four years, working on homework and studying late.

“It’s been a very emotional week,” she said “I made it through finals, and I even pulled an all nighter…but I’m excited for the ceremonies this weekend.”

But Havern also talked about change that is to come for the class of 2012, and as he addressed the class’ future, his fellow graduate Haglund began to tear up.

“Eventually, you seem to realize the only thing constant is change,” Havern said. “So now we sit here today, patiently awaiting what is quite possibly the biggest change in our lives.”