I recently found the high school graduation speech I gave in 1977, and it really made me smile. I made reference to 13 years of homework, 3:30 bells, and cafeteria food. With my 18 years of mighty wisdom, I appealed to my peers to pay as much attention to how they achieved their goals as to the goals themselves. I extolled the joys of backpacking. What I didn’t know then simply wasn’t worth knowing, or so I thought. So humorous!
Wow! What a treasure to have something like that to look back on. It's so interesting to see how you viewed the world and life in your youth. Sounds like it contained many gems to make you smile!
Love this essay on hope, and the beautiful quotes at the end. Thank you. We just had Anna Quindlen at our library lunch, and she noted that her offer to be the commencement speaker for Villanova's graduation years ago was rescinded after people complained that she was pro-choice... when a woman graduating asked if she had a copy of her speech, she sent it to her. Her publisher printed it as a book when it went viral—"A Short Guide to a Happy Life" has sold millions...and I think she eventually spoke at their graduation.
Also, my daughter graduated from Emerson this weekend. Her roommate was asked to do her standup routine for the graduation (comedic arts major)-she was terrific, despite the massive crowd, and being five feet from the amazing keynote, Henry Winkler. We in the kidlit community know what a great speaker he is, but if you want to take a peek, he is on at the 1:16 mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kybxDka1HKI&t=3262s
Thanks for the hope!
Anytime...LOL🎓
I recently found the high school graduation speech I gave in 1977, and it really made me smile. I made reference to 13 years of homework, 3:30 bells, and cafeteria food. With my 18 years of mighty wisdom, I appealed to my peers to pay as much attention to how they achieved their goals as to the goals themselves. I extolled the joys of backpacking. What I didn’t know then simply wasn’t worth knowing, or so I thought. So humorous!
Wow! What a treasure to have something like that to look back on. It's so interesting to see how you viewed the world and life in your youth. Sounds like it contained many gems to make you smile!
Much pomposity and undeserved bravado oozed forth from the yellowed typewritten speech, I will say!
Love this essay on hope, and the beautiful quotes at the end. Thank you. We just had Anna Quindlen at our library lunch, and she noted that her offer to be the commencement speaker for Villanova's graduation years ago was rescinded after people complained that she was pro-choice... when a woman graduating asked if she had a copy of her speech, she sent it to her. Her publisher printed it as a book when it went viral—"A Short Guide to a Happy Life" has sold millions...and I think she eventually spoke at their graduation.
Also, my daughter graduated from Emerson this weekend. Her roommate was asked to do her standup routine for the graduation (comedic arts major)-she was terrific, despite the massive crowd, and being five feet from the amazing keynote, Henry Winkler. We in the kidlit community know what a great speaker he is, but if you want to take a peek, he is on at the 1:16 mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kybxDka1HKI&t=3262s
Kathy,
First of all --- thank you for the kind words.
Second of all --- Congratulations to your daughter and your family!
Third of all --- I love that story about Anna Quindlen! I haven't read that book, but I'm going to now.
And fourth of all --- thanks for the video link! Can't wait to watch it!
Enjoy all of the joy and festivities! 🎉🎉🎉
May joy, hopefulness,
glad anticipation lead.
Graduate or not!
May joy, hopefulness,
glad anticipation lead.
Graduate or not!