Mia Farrow Delivers Message of Service To UConn Fine Arts Graduates

Mia Farrow's address to graduates of the Fine Arts program at the University of Connecticut on Saturday reflected upon the hardships faced by everyday Americans in the midst of tough economic times.

"We can jump back again. It's OK to diversify," the actress and humanitarian activist told the audience at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts in Storrs.

"Years ago my 5-year-old daughter declared, "'I want to be a doctor, a ballerina, a mermaid and a man. I told her, 'You go for it. Yes! You can do it all''," Farrow said. "Nobody every told me that when I was young. So I'm saying, as you move along, feel empowered to change lanes. People say you have to decide to be this or that. I say we can do many different things. Personally, I'm still diversifying."

Whether UConn's latest batch of actors, filmmakers, photographers and graphic artists choose to "diversify" by going on to graduate school or in their first full-time jobs, Farrow made it clear in her speech Saturday that giving back is the most important thing to do in life.

Although Farrow, 66, has lived out her adult life in the public eye with much success on the silver screen and relationships with some of the 20th century's most prominent artists, she told graduates that "some of the most meaningful times of my life have taken place far from Hollywood and Broadway."

In recent years, Farrow has been spending a great deal of time in Sudan as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, traveling to the country's Darfur region in hopes of shedding light on ethnic violence, which Farrow called "the first genocide of the 21st century."

In her attempts to share the stories of Darfur's war-torn families, Farrow not only found her calling, she said, but discovered what she hopes to pass on: the importance of responsibility.

Responsibility is "the most important thing I could convey to my own 14 kids," said Farrow, who lives in Bridgewater, CT.

Citing responsibility to "our families, our communities" and "the planet we have inherited," Farrow urged graduates to "do all the good you can, by all the means available, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, for all the people you can, for as long as ever you can."

In recognition of Farrow's many accomplishments, the university awarded her an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters.

The message inside Farrow's commencement address seemed to be well received by the graduates. Two of them - Greg Platt and Carolyn Anderson - both said they have their eyes set on furthering their education.

"I'm excited for what's next...grad school," said Anderson.

Stratford native Marc Maignan echoed his fellow graduates' enthusiasm, saying he is "truly elated," to have earned his degree.

"I'm looking forward to venturing off into the work force now," Maignan said.