Video: Secretary Clinton's Remarks at Pre-Departure Fulbright Orientation

Video Remarks to the U.S. Fulbright Scholars and Students Virtual Pre-Departure Orientation

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

May 25, 2012

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Congratulations on being selected for a Fulbright scholarship! The Fulbright has been a cornerstone of United States engagement abroad for more than sixty years. When Senator Fulbright created this program in 1946, the world looked very different than it does today, but the principles that the Fulbright Program was founded upon still ring true. Fostering stronger relationships among peoples, communities and countries takes far more than government-to-government cooperation; it takes individuals working to find common ground. Over the course of the next year, you will live, research, or teach in a new corner of the world. You’ll form professional and personal connections that will not only enrich your lives –but will enrich America’s relationships overseas. There is no doubt you will face some challenges along the way, but you will go back home with irreplaceable stories and experiences that will be with you forever.
I hope you’re as excited for the experience that lies ahead as we are for you. And I hope you’d use this orientation as an opportunity to prepare yourself. Please take advantage of this extraordinary time abroad for you. This is your moment to do something special, to learn about a new culture, to explore the common bonds that unite all of humanity. I wish you the very best as you embark on your Fulbright experience.