Former Governor of the US state of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Ulster University in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, in recognition of his illustrious career and diverse achievements. This honor comes six years after a sarcastic remark made by the 79-year-old American actor of Austrian origin about the failure of 'Trump University'. During a virtual graduation speech in 2020 for students who had to stay at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Schwarzenegger, who himself holds an honorary doctorate from that university, said, 'This is nothing, we all have such papers,' in a sarcastic reference to its value. In a post shared by Ulster University on Instagram, it stated that it awarded Schwarzenegger this degree in recognition of his distinguished professional career, significant contributions to public service, efforts to combat the climate crisis, and his accomplishments in the arts. Schwarzenegger's first visit to Northern Ireland dates back to 1966 when he was 19 years old, participating in a bodybuilding competition in Belfast. The university noted that Schwarzenegger's current visit to Belfast is personally significant, as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of that first visit, which was a turning point in his career. The university described this early visit as a 'breakthrough' in Schwarzenegger's life, as it was the first time he was invited to speak to the public on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which helped bring him into the spotlight at the beginning of his career. During his acceptance speech, Schwarzenegger expressed his gratitude, saying he could not have imagined when he visited Belfast as a 19-year-old athlete six decades ago that he would one day return to receive an honorary doctorate from a prestigious university like Ulster University. He affirmed that his return to this place represents a special moment in his life. In his speech, Schwarzenegger recalled his motivational message to the graduates of 2020, urging them to reflect on their educational journey and look to the future with confidence. He emphasized that having a clear vision in life is fundamental to achieving success. He explained that the lack of a goal makes it difficult to reach one's ambitions. He added that he has always had clear goals since his youth, first to become a bodybuilding champion, then a successful movie actor, stressing the importance of setting clear plans for life. In conclusion, Schwarzenegger stated that education forms the true foundation for any successful future, and that increasing knowledge contributes to progress in various fields, whether academic, professional, artistic, or athletic. He stressed the importance of educational institutions like Ulster University in building knowledge, self-confidence, and shaping the future, expressing his thanks to the university's administration for awarding him a degree he described as being of great value to him.
