Graduation Speaker Tells Students “You’re Not Special”
June 12, 2012 8:32 AM When I graduated (years ago) all I remember about the ceremony was that it took a long time! I don’t remember who the valedictorian was, who spoke, and I don’t even remember going up to get my diploma. I bet if this guy had talked at my graduation though, I would have remembered it!
A few days ago, an English teacher spoke at his high school’s graduation in Boston. And it was AMAZING. His message to the graduates was . . . YOU’RE NOT SPECIAL. Just because people have pampered you, no one’s going to hand you anything from this point on. So do something worthwhile, don’t do everything for selfish gains, and you can really live a fulfilling life. Below you can read a few of the highlights of his speech.
Across the country no fewer than 3.2 million seniors are graduating about now from 37,000 high schools. That’s 37,000 valedictorians, 37,000 class presidents, 340,000 swaggering jocks, 2,185,967 pairs of Uggs.
“But why limit ourselves to high school? Even if you’re one in a million, on a planet of 6.8 billion, that means there are nearly 7,000 people just like you.–”You see, if everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless.”
Via Boston Herald
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