Updated

Updated · NBC Chicago · Jun 14

Sarah Jessica Parker Urges Northwestern's Class of 2026 to Dream Big, Receives Honorary Doctorate

Updated

Updated · NBC Chicago · Jun 14

Sarah Jessica Parker Urges Northwestern's Class of 2026 to Dream Big, Receives Honorary Doctorate

Q: What specific novel did Sarah Jessica Parker urge every graduate to read during her address?

Sarah Jessica Parker urged graduates to read **“A Place for Us” by Fatima Farheen Mirza**. That detail comes from the additional reporting on her Northwestern commencement address, which noted that Parker recommended the novel while speaking about curiosity, self-education and human connection. The main news account focused more broadly on her themes of individuality, resilience and compassion, but the supplemental coverage identifies **Mirza’s novel** as the specific book she singled out.

Q: Beyond her acting advice, what 'Golden Rule' did Parker confess she struggles to follow herself?

She said she sometimes falls short of the classic Golden Rule: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In her Northwestern commencement address, Parker described that principle as a personal “beacon,” while candidly admitting she does not always live up to it. She told graduates that, like everyone, she has moments when she misses that standard, but still sees it as an essential guide for how to treat other people. That was the “Golden Rule” she said she struggles to follow herself, beyond her advice about individuality, curiosity and doing things in your own way.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Chicago · Jun 14

Northwestern awarded Sarah Jessica Parker an honorary Doctor of Arts degree as she delivered Sunday’s commencement address to the Class of 2026 at Chicago’s United Center.
Parker centered her speech on individuality, curiosity and ambition, using a string of “what if” questions to urge graduates to stay true to themselves while pursuing big dreams.
Drawing on her own career, the “Sex and the City” star said she often resisted pressure to change her appearance, choices and approach, telling students to “take the note, but do it your own way.”
She also acknowledged setbacks are inevitable and closed by urging graduates to support one another and help build a more compassionate future.