It's graduation time. Every year in June high school kids and college kids don caps and gowns and go through the rite of passage called commencement. Before they take that walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, they sit through the usual commencement speeches. The themes of those speeches don't vary much - this is the beginning, not an end; your possibilities are limitless; the world is your oyster; blah, blah, blah.
I prefer Charles Wheelan's advice. He wrote a book titled 10-1/2 Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said. Here are his thoughts:
1. Your time socializing was well spent.
2. Some of your worst times lie ahead.
3. Don't make the world worse.
4. Marry someone smarter than you.
5. Don't make a competition out of everything.
6. Read obituaries.
7. Your parents never really wanted what was best for you.
8. Don't let your pay check be your only reward.
9. It's all borrowed time. Nobody leaves this life alive.
10. Don't try to be great.
Ellen DeGeneres had some funny things to say when she addressed Tulane University graduates in 2009. Things said in jest are usually true, so pay attention to her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6pPBqfrAnI
Making it to graduation is an accomplishment. Still, that was probably the easy part. Bon voyage, graduates, on your journey through life.
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