A few years ago, I had a friend that graduated from college, just before her 30th birthday. She had done all of her classes online, and since she didn’t get to walk across a stage, I had a dinner party for her. Although she thought it was just dinner and wine to celebrate her accomplishments, it was so much more!

I bought her a cap along with the correct color tassel (I had no idea that was a thing but I guessed correctly) for her to wear throughout the evening. What she didn’t know, was that we had a commencement speech planned.

Her favorite shows all belong to Shonda Rhimes – Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away With Murder. I found the best quotes I could on believing in yourself and cut them in to strips. Each of us read our chosen clips out loud to her, as if we were giving her lessons in life to move forward with. Let me tell you, this is the graduation ceremony that each TGIT fan deserves!

Don’t let what he wants eclipse what you need. He’s very dreamy, but he’s not the sun. You are. ~Christina Yang

Walk tall. All you can do is be brave enough to get out there. You fought. You loved. You Lost. Walk tall. ~Mark Sloan

There’s an end to every storm. Once all the trees have been uprooted. Once all the houses have been ripped apart. The wind will hush, the clouds will part, the rain will stop, the sky will clear in an instant. But only then, in those quiet moments after the storm, do we learn who was strong enough to survive it. ~Meredith Grey

When we follow our hearts, when we choose not to settle. It’s funny, isn’t it? A weight lifts, the sun shines a little brighter, and for a brief moment, we find a little peace. ~Meredith Grey

Deep down, everyone wants to believe they can be hardcore. But being hardcore isn’t just about being tough – it’s about acceptance. Sometimes you have to give yourself permission to not be hardcore for once. You don’t have to be tough every minute of every day. It’s okay to let down your guard. In fact, there are moments when it’s the best thing you can possibly do – as long as you choose your moments wisely. ~Meredith Grey

Knowing is better than wondering. Waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying. ~Meredith Grey

Have some fire. Be unstoppable. Be a force of nature. Be better than anyone here and don’t give a damn about what anyone thinks. ~Cristina Yang

Did you say it? ‘I love you.’ ‘I don’t ever want to live without you.’ ‘You changed my life.’ Did you say it? Make a plan. Set a goal. Work toward it, but every now and then look around; Drink it in ‘cause this is it. It might all be gone tomorrow. ~Meredith Grey

If you love someone, you tell them. Even if you’re scared that it’s not the right thing. Even if you’re scared that it’ll cause problems. Even if you’re scared that it will burn your life to the ground, you say it, and you say it loud and you go from there. ~Mark Sloan

We don’t get unlimited chances to have the things that we want, and this I know. Nothing is worse than missing an opportunity that could have changed your life. ~Addison Montgomery-Shepherd

Just when we think we figured things out, the universe throws us a curveball. So, we have to improvise. We find happiness in unexpected places. We find ourselves back to the things that matter the most. The universe is funny that way. Sometimes it just has a way of making sure we wind up exactly where we belong. ~Meredith Grey

You know as well as I do it’s not about what you look like, or your job, or how successful you are. It’s about having people in your life that you love and who love you. That’s all that matters. ~Miranda Bailey

It’s horrible and it’s sickening and just when you think you can’t take anymore it gets fun. ~Huck

I am many things, stupid is not one of them. ~Olivia Pope

It’s handled. ~ Olivia Pope

Take a breath. Keep your head still, maintain eye contact. Just answer what was asked of you; if you go off on a tangent it will look unreliable. Let’s try again. ~Olivia Pope

It’s okay to be afraid, sometimes fear keeps us safe, sometimes it holds us back. ~Olivia Pope

It was just one of those rare moments. A crossroads where you know, you just know, if you don’t act now, if you let this moment slip away, it will haunt you for the rest of your life. ~Fitz

I’m choosing me. And right now, I’m dancing. Now, you can dance with me or you can get off my dance floor. I’m fine dancing alone. ~Olivia Pope

Whatever you say to the police, can and will be misconstrued to support the prosecution. So when in doubt, shut your mouth. ~Annalise Keating

Never take a learning opportunity from anyone no matter how smart you need others to think you are. ~Annalise Keating