Before Mark Warner became a multi-millionaire in the telecommunications industry and was elected as Virginia’s governor and then one of its two U.S. senators, he grappled with something familiar to many people: failure.

“I have failed at virtually everything I ever tried at one point in my life, and quite honestly, I have probably learned more from failures than success,” Warner told graduates May 18 during commencement ceremonies at George Mason University’s Patriot Center.

The senator recounted disastrous forays into the energy and real estate industries before hitting the jackpot by founding Nextel.

“I am the only speaker you will ever have who says, even while I’m speaking, ‘Leave your cell phones on,’” Warner said. “You hear an annoying sound. I hear ‘ca-ching, ca-ching.’”

The 8,100-member Class of 2013 was GMU’s largest ever, with 4,781 earning bachelor’s degrees, 2,904 obtaining master’s degrees, 230 receiving doctoral degrees and 258 earning law degrees.

Psychology again this year was the most popular undergraduate major, with 359 students receiving degrees in that field, followed by information technology (282), accounting (273), communications (271) and biology (220).

In an annual rite, C. Daniel Clemente, rector of GMU’s board of visitors, presented his predecessor in that post, Ernst Volgenau, with the Mason Medal.

GMU president Ángel Cabrera, concluding his first year in that role after succeeding longtime president Alan Merten, said the purpose of the university was to “change the world for the better, one life at a time.”

GMU keeps its doors open to people who wish to learn and grow, he said.

“Mason is not bound by its past, but energized by its potential,” Cabrera said. “Mason is not an island, but a crossroads. We’re not an ivory tower, but a meeting point of ideas or dreams.”

GMU officials played a video featuring Shaair Hawkins, who in rap/poetry style expounded on the university’s concept of IDEA: innovative, diverse, entrepreneurial and accessible.

“If we all agree, it’s not diversity,” said Hawkins, who received a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Warner agreed with Cabrera’s comments regarding GMU’s diversity, saying it represented the changing face of Virginia and the United States.

“There is no better evidence that diversity makes us stronger,” Warner said, adding, “it is one more reason why in my day job we need to pass major immigration reform this year.”

Warner told graduates they also had a responsibility to their community, country and world. He noted the United States’ $16.5 trillion debt, which grows by $4 billion daily.

“Guess what? If we don’t get it fixed, you pick up the bill,” he said.

While saying he did not blame people for becoming cynical and alienated about the hyper-partisan political climate, Warner pressed the graduates to involve themselves in the nation’s political debates in a respectful manner.

“We should be able to debate these critical issues without questioning each other’s motives or commitment to our country,” he said. “No one in politics – and I mean no one – has a monopoly on virtue or patriotism or the truth.”

Graduate speaker Brennan Morris, who also earned a bachelor’s degree in communications, noted the accomplishments of a wide range of GMU students.

“Given we have done here, we should be confident in our capacity to contribute to all that is greater than ourselves,” he said.

After celebrating their achievements, graduates should feel imbued with an even greater sense of service, Morris said.

“For we stand at the fulcrum of history,” he said. “This is our moment in the annals of time, our chance to leave our mark. Let us honor the memory of all those who came before us with effort that will inspire all those who come after us. Let us conduct ourselves bravely and boldly so posterity will know their forebears lived in the age of heroes.”

After the ceremony, graduates and their families popped open their umbrellas and stood outside in the rain to exchange hugs and take commemorative photos.

Michael Munoz, 28, who received a master’s degree in education, said he was glad GMU offered flexible scheduling so students could balance work and school.

“The university made it easy, the professors made it easy,” Munoz said. “They helped encourage our learning by making it more accessible.”