Biden urged Yale graduates to know the difference between knowledge and judgment.
Commencements were held at colleges and universities across the state this weekend.
Quinnipiac University, Fairfield University, Trinity College, Connecticut College and the University of Hartford all held ceremonies. Governor Dannel Malloy gave remarks at the Mitchell College graduation ceremony in New London.
Yale University’s commencement takes place today, but Vice President Joe Biden donned his aviator sunglasses Sunday and addressed thousands of graduates, family members, university professors and administrators for Yale Class Day. Biden said neither he, nor anyone else, can tell another person what will make him or her happy, or help them find success.
"And my wish for all of you is that not only tomorrow, but 20, and 40, and 50 years from now, you’ve found that sweet spot," Biden said. "That thing that allows you to get up in the morning, put both feet on the floor, go out and pursue what you love and think it still matters."
Biden urged students to question the judgment of others, but not to assume other people's motives, because they're unknowable.
"So one piece of advice is, try to look beyond the caricature of the person with whom you have to work," Biden said. "Resist the temptation to ascribe motive because you really don’t know and it gets in the way of being able to reach a consensus on things that matter to you and to many other people."
Biden also spoke about the impact tragedy has had on his life. HIs wife and one-year old daughter were killed, and his two young sons were critically injured, in an auto accident just weeks after he was first elected to the U.S. Senate.
Biden described commuting four hours a day from Delaware to Washington, D.C. to be home with his sons each night, and facing criticism by those who said he could not be a serious national political figure if he didn’t spend more time in Washington.
"But I realized I didn’t miss a thing," Biden said. "Ambition is really important. You need it and I certainly have never lacked in having ambition. But important without perspective can be a killer."
Biden urged Yale graduates to know the difference between knowledge and judgment.
Biden represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years before becoming vice president.
President Barack Obama comes to Connecticut on Wednesday to give the keynote address at Commencement exercises for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London.
