Former U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a nationally televised high school commencement speech Saturday night and challenged the graduates to shape the world, amid the pandemic and uncertainties around.

“Graduating is a big achievement under any circumstances, some of you have had to overcome very serious obstacles along the way, whether it was an illness or a parent losing a job or living in a neighborhood where people too often count you out,” the president said in his address.

“Then, just as you’re about to celebrate having made it through, just as you’ve been looking forward to proms, senior nights, graduation ceremonies and let’s face it, a whole bunch of parties, the world is turned upside down by a global pandemic.”

“It’s when you get to decide what’s important to you, the kind of career you want to pursue, who you want to build a family with, the values you want to live by.

The country’s first African American president also delivered a virtual commencement earlier on Saturday for the graduates of historically African-American universities.