Twelve Bermudians who were part of Oakwood University’s Class of 2012 have been treated to a commencement address by one of their own.Digicel Bermuda CEO Wayne Caines, a graduate of the 116-year-old black university in Huntsville, Alabama, was the keynote speaker.He challenged graduates to “think much bigger” than simply securing a job.“You are the brightest and the best we have to offer a world that is on the brink of social, economic, environmental and spiritual disaster,” he said. “You are the legacy of every founder, alumnus, administrator and faculty member to a world that needs people who are ready to serve as agents of change.”Mr Caines reminded the graduates that they are “entering a world that is being separated into the haves and the have-nots”.He reflected back on his introduction to the workforce on graduating in 1993.He completed law school in London, England and then returned to Bermuda with his wife and infant daughter thinking he was “the best thing since sliced bread”.“I held an air of confidence that all the law firms would be lining up to hire me like a first-round draft pick in the NFL,” he told the graduates.“I had already planned my first partners’ lunch in the most sought after corner office.”His reality was he received no call backs, after months of interviews.“My BlackBerry would have better served as the actual fruit, so I might have at least had food.“I was forced to make a decision to feed my wife and daughter and so I did what any self-respecting man would do, I ran, crying to my mother,” said Mr Caines.His mother found him a job as an orderly in a nursing home.“My tasks included cleaning, mopping and bathing patients. I would often get deeply annoyed and vexed when my colleagues called me ‘the most qualified orderly in Bermuda’. Little did I know my steps were being ordered by God,” Mr Caines told the audience of more than 15,000 people.Six months later he was approached by the Director of Public Prosecutions at the time; two days later he was hired as a Crown counsel.“Some might call it coincidence but I learned more in that six months washing floors and giving sponge baths than I have in the last 15 years of my other careers,” he said.“When you consider that three million people lost their jobs in the most powerful country in the world last year and roughly four million lost their homes in a time when the greed of the few has led to devastating consequences for billions of people; you have graduated to a position of certifiable professional stature and now what?“Will you follow the recent examples set by those on Wall Street and fall prey to the western world’s value of conspicuous consumption — the capitalist mantra whereby he or she who has the most toys wins?“Or will you take up a cause, something that is noble and bigger than yourself? Will you commit to sharing your knowledge outside of your sphere of reach, outside your comfort zone?”He continued: “My caveat to you is that you are in a world full of great needs; some might even say a world in great despair. I am here to say the world needs you, and needs you desperately; needs to have your unique voice.“You cannot simply hit ‘like’ on Facebook and believe that you have made a contribution to change. You cannot simply put on a hoodie and make it your Facebook status picture and believe that you are now a revolutionary.“What will you change? What will you be committed to? Will it be that which positively impacts the world around you or will it merely encourage more of the same?“In other words, which God will you serve? Oakwood’s history is littered with willing servants, servants of humanity, servants of the great God we claim to worship in spirit and in truth.“So go forth Class of 2012 and make that money, doing what you do, but make sure that wherever you go you exude the love and the caring compassion of God. Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified or discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”More than 30 members of Mr Caines’ family attended the ceremony. Among the Class of 2012 was Deshay Caines, the daughter of Mr Caines’ twin brother Dwayne.Mr Caines said he was “humbled and most gracious to have the opportunity to speak at the graduation”.He added: “The experience was even more monumental and special for me in that my niece Deshay graduated.”Miss Caines earned a degree in business with a concentration in management, history and political science. She graduated with a grade point average of 3.86.