J.K. Rowling via Telegraph

Before they could receive their diploma, throw their cap into the air, and rush to the reception, college graduates had to endure one last rite of passage: the commencement speech.

We always thought the luckiest kids have been the ones to get theirs from crack-ups like Ali G and Will Ferrell, speakers at Harvard, and Jon Stewart, a speaker for William and Mary.

But imagine getting Barack Obama when his campaign is at a fever pitch? For Wesleyan grads, it was a reality.

The Presidential candidate urged graduates to take responsibility for their planet. "At a time when our ice caps are melting and our oceans are rising, we need you to help lead a green revolution," he said. "We still have time to avoid the catastrophic consequences of climate change if we get serious about investing in renewable sources of energy, and if we get a generation of volunteers to work on renewable energy projects, and teach folks about conservation, and help clean up polluted areas; if we send talented engineers and scientists abroad to help developing countries promote clean energy."

Perhaps J.K. Rowling (the mind behind Harry Potter) said it best when she told the audience at Harvard, "We do not need magic to change the world."