David McCullough, Jr. Speech for Wesley High School graduates (you are not special)

Dr. Wong, Dr. Keough, Mrs.novogroski, Ms Curran, members of the Board of Education, Familyand Friends of the graduates, L Adies and gentlemen of the Wellesleyhigh School class of, for the privilege of speaking to Youthis afternoon, I am Ho  Nored and grateful. Thankyou.

Dr. Wang, Dr. Keough, Novogroski and Miss Curran, members of the Board of Education and Friends of the graduates, ladies and gentlemen of the Vesley 2012 graduating class, have the opportunity to speak to you this afternoon and I am very honored and grateful, thank you. OK, go to the theme!

So here we're commencement ... life ' sgreat forward-looking ceremony.  (and don ' t say, "What's about weddings?")   Weddings is one-sided andinsufficiently effective.  weddings arebride-centric pageantry.  other than Co nceding Toa List of unreasonable demands, the groom just standsthere.  No stately, hey-everybody-look-at-meprocession .  no being givenaway.  no identity-changingpronouncement.  and can you imagine a televisionshow dedicated To watching guys try in tuxedos? their fathers sitting there misty-eyed with joy and disbelief,their the lurking In the corner muttering withenvy. , weddings would is, afterlimits-testing procrastination, spontaneous, Almost inadvertent...during halftime ... on the the-the-Refrigerator. and then there ' s the frequency of Failure:stati Stics tell us halfof you'll get divorced.  A winning percentagelike that ' ll get your last place in the American Leag ueeast.  The Baltimore OriolesDo better thanweddings.)

Graduation ceremony-An important forward-looking ritual in life. Don't ask, "What about the wedding?" "Weddings are one-sided and inefficient. The wedding is a bridal-centric event, in addition to agreeing to a long list of unreasonable demands, the groom can only stand aside. There is no solemn, "everyone looks at me" process, there is no ceremony like the bride was sent by the elders, no change of identity declaration. Can you imagine a TV show where men try to wear tuxedos? Their father sat there, with a joyful and unbelievable look in his tearful eyes, and their brother hiding in the corner, muttering with envy. For men, after a delay in challenging the limits, weddings are like spontaneously, almost unconsciously, going to the fridge to get a drink during the game's intermission. However, the rate of failure of marriage is as follows: statistics show that half of the audience in the scene will get divorced; Baltimore's winning ratio is higher than marriage success rate.

But this ceremony commencement ... acommencement works every time. From this dayforward truly ... in sickness and in health, through Financialfiascos, through midlife crises and passably attr Active sales Repsat trade shows in Cincinnati, through diminishing tolerance forannoyingness, through every difference, IR Reconcilable Andotherwise, you'll stay forever graduated from high school, youand your diploma as one, ' Til death does you Part.

But the ceremony--the graduation ceremony--will always be a complete success. Starting today-it's true, whether you're sick or healthy, experienced financial distress, midlife crisis, met a glamorous sales rep at the Cincinnati Trade show-parents know what I mean; tolerance for annoying things is getting lower, and every change, self-contradiction and other The fact that you graduated from high school will never change, and your diploma would accompany you throughout your life.

No, Commencement is Life's greatceremonial beginning, with its own attendant and highly appropriatesymbolism.  Fitting, for example, for thisauspicious rite of Passage, is where we find ourselves Thisafternoon, the venue. Normally, I avoid clichéslike the plague, wouldn ' t touch them with a ten-foot pole, but Herewe is on a literal level play  ing field.  Thatmatters. That says something.  And your ceremonial costume ... shapeless, Uniform,one-size-fits-all. Whether male or female, Tallor short, scholar or slacker, spray-tanned prom queen orintergalactic X-box Assassin, each of  You are dressed, you ' llnotice, exactly the same. And your diploma ... butfor your name, exactly the same.

No, the commencement represents the beginning of a great ritual in life, which has its own added value and high symbolic significance, for example, a symbol that allows us to find a wonderful ritual of our own orientation this afternoon. Usually I avoid the bad tone of the cavity like the plague, and go far, but now we are in the arena of equality, which is important and it represents some meaning. Your graduation dresses--no styling, uniform appearance, same size, no matter men and women, height, reading, whether it is a bronze prom queen or an Xbox star assassin, you will find that everyone is wearing the same. And your diploma ... Except for the name, the other is exactly the same.

All of the This is as it should are, because none ofyou is special.

You are notspecial. You are notexceptional.

Contrary to Whatyour U9 Soccer Trophy suggests, your glowing seventh grade Reportcard, despite every assurance of a certai N corpulent Purpledinosaur, that's nice mister Rogers and your batty Aunt Sylvia, nomatter How often your maternal caped cru Sader have swooped in Tosave you ... you ' re nothing special.

All this should have been so, for none of you is special.

You are not special, you are not different;

Although you have a U9 football trophy and a brilliant seven grade report card, although you are sure there must be fat purple dinosaurs, gracious Mr. Rogers (famous children's TV host) and eccentric Aunt Sylvia, no matter how many times the woman Batman has saved you, you are still nothing special.

       

Yes, you ' ve been pampered, cosseted, doted upon,helmeted, bubble-wrapped. Yes, capable adultswith other things to do has held you, kissed, fed, wipedyour mouth, wiped your bottom, trained You, taught-Tutoredyou, coached you, listened-to-you, counseled-you, encouraged-you,consoled you and encouraged  Again. You ' Vebeen nudged, cajoled, wheedled and implored.  You ' ve been feted and fawned over and called Sweetiepie.  Yes, you have.  And,certainly, we ' ve been to your games, your plays, your recitals,your science fairs.  Absolutely, smiles Ignitewhen you walk to a, and hundreds gasp with delight at Yourevery tweet. Why, maybe "ve even had yourpicture in thetownsman! [Editor ' s upgrade:or the swellesleyreport!]

Yes, you are pampered, spoiled, pampered, protected, cared for; Yes, busy adults hold You, kiss you, feed you, wipe your mouth, wipe your buttocks, train you, teach you, guide you, mentor you, listen to you, exhort you, encourage you, comfort you, and encourage you repeatedly. You are lightly held in your arms, little gentle and pleading, and you are praised and called the Sweet Heart. Yes, you do. Of course, we have participated in your competitions, theatrical performances, recitals, scientific exhibitions, and, of course, everyone smiles when you walk into the room, and every Twitter message you post gives you a thrill of excitement. Why? Maybe your photo was on board Townsman (Wesley High School journal).

And now you ' ve conquered High School...and, indisputably, here we all has gathered for you, the Pride Andjoy of this fi NE Community, the first to emerge from thatmagnificent new building ...

But does not get the reanything special. Because you ' Renot.

Now that you have conquered the high school stage, we are all gathered here for you, no doubt. You are the pride and joy of this great community, the first people to walk out of that magnificent new building.

But don't think you have anything special, because you're not special.

 

The empirical evidence is everywhere,numbers even a 中文版 teacher can ' t Ignore. newton, Natick, Nee ... I am allowed to say Needham, yes? ... that have tobe, thousand, school graduates right there, give or take,and that ' s just the neighborhood ns.  ACR OSS Thecountry No fewer than 3.2 million seniors is graduating about Nowfrom more than 37,000 high schools.  that ' s 37,000valedictorians ... 37,000 class presidents ... 92,000 harmonizing altos ... 340,000 swaggering jocks ... 2,185,967 pairs ofuggs.  But what limit ourselves to highschool?  after all, you ' re leavingit.  so think Abo UT this:even If you ' re one in Amillion, on a planet of 6.8 billion that means there is nearly7,000 people just like you.  imagine standingsomewhere over there on Washington Street on Marathon Monday andwatching sixty-eight hundred yous g O Running By. and Consider for a moment the bigger picture:your planet, I ' llremind you, are not the center of its sol AR system, your Solarsystem Is isn't the center of its galaxy, your galaxy isn't Thecenter of the universe.  in fact, astrophysicistsassure US th E universe has no center; Therefore, you cannot beit. 

The evidence is ubiquitous, and the number is so big that even an English teacher can't ignore it. Newton, Natick, Nee ... (both adjacent high schools); I can mention Needham, right? There are a total of 2000 high school graduates-about this number, which is just in the neighbourhood. There are now more than 3.2 million high school students graduating from more than 37,000 high schools, that is to say, there are 37,000 graduate representatives, 37,000 student presidents, 92,000 choir members, 340,000 cocky athletes, and 2,185,967 pairs of boots. But why is it confined to high school? After all you are about to leave it. So think about it: even if you are the elite of millions, it means that nearly 7000 people are like you in the 6.8 billion of the world's population. Imagine standing on Washington Street somewhere in the Monday marathon, watching 6,800 "you" run. In a more macroscopic sense: I have to remind you that your planet is not the center of the solar system; Your solar system is not the center of the Milky Way; your Milky Way is not the center of the universe. In fact, astronomers affirm that the universe has no center. Therefore, you will not be the center of the universe.

neither can Donald Trump ... whichsomeone should tell him ... although that hair was quite aphenomenon.

Even Donald. Trump would not be; somebody should have told him about it.

"But, Dave," You Cry, "Walt whitmantells me I ' m my own version of perfection!  Epictetus tells me I have the spark of zeus! "  AndI don ' t disagree.  So that makes 6.8 billionexamples of perfection, 6.8 billion sparks ofzeus.  You see, if everyone was special, then noone is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophiesbecome meaningless.

Although his hair is indeed a spectacle. "But dave," you Shout, "Whitman (American poet) told me that I was the perfect version of myself! Epictetus (Ancient Greek philosopher) told me that I had the spark of Zeus! "I don't object to that. Therefore, this represents 6.8 billion perfect examples, the spark of 6.8 billion Zeus. You know, if everyone is special, no one is special, and if everyone gets the trophy, the trophy becomes meaningless.

  in we unspoken but not so subtledarwinian competition with one Another–which Springs, I think, Fromour fear of our own insignificance, a subset of our dread Ofmortality-we has late, we Americans, to our Detrimen T, Cometo love accolades more than genuine achievement. we has come to see them as the Point-and We ' re happy tocom Promise standards, or ignore reality, if we suspect that's thequickest, or only the, to has something to put on Thema Ntelpiece, something to pose with, Crow in, something Withwhich to leverage ourselves in a better spot on the social totempole.  No Longer is it what you play the game, Nolonger are it even whether you win or lose, or learn or grow, Ore NJoy yourself doing it...  now it's "So what Doesthis get me?"   As a consequence, we cheapen worthyendeavors, and building a Guatemalan medical clinic becomes moreabout the Applic ation to Bowdoin than the well-being Ofguatemalans.

  It's an epidemic-and, its way,not, even, old dear, is Wellesley ... one of the best of the37,000 nationwide, Wellesley high School ... where good is no longergood enough, where a B is the new C, and the midlevel Curriculum iscalled Advanced College placement.  and I hope youcaught me when I said "one of the best."   I said "one of the best" so we can feel better on ourselves, so we canbask in a little easy distinction, however Vague and unverifiable,and count ourselves among the elite, whoever they might is, andenjoy a perceived leg up on the PERC eivedcompetition.  but the phrase defieslogic.  by definition there can is only onebest.  your ' re it or you ' Re not.

It is an infectious disease that, to the extent of its infection, is not immune to the historic Vesley. One of the top 37000 high schools in the country-Vesley. Here, "good" is not good enough; B is considered a new C; Intermediate courses are referred to as pre-university courses. I want you to notice the "one of the best" I've just said, and I say "one of the best," because then we can feel good about ourselves, to be immersed in this insignificant difference, no matter how vague and impossible it is, to see ourselves as one of the elite, no matter who the elite may be. and enjoy the self-righteous lead in the competition. But that is illogical. By definition, the best is only one;

If you've learned anything in youryears here I hope it's that education should is for, rather thanmaterial advantage, the Exhilaration of learning.  You've learned, too, I Hope, as Sophocles assured us, that wisdomis the chief element of happiness.  (Second is icecream ... just an FYI) I also Hopeyou ' ve learned enough to recognize what little you know ... how littleyou know now ... at the moment ... for today's jus  T thebeginning. It's where you go from here thatmatters.

If you have learned anything in high school years, I hope it is the essence of education-joy is learning, not material superiority. I also want you to learn, as Sophocles (the ancient Greek tragedy writer), that intelligence is the first element of happiness; the second is ice cream-for reference only. I also hope that what you have learned is enough to make you aware of your shortcomings and how little you know about yourself now. Because today is only a beginning, the important thing is to learn in the future.

  As you are commence, then, and before youscatter to the winds, I urge what do whatever you do for Noreason other than you lo ve it and believe in itsimportance.  don ' t bother with work you don't have ' tbelieve in a + than you would a spouse ' Re not crazy About,lest-too find yourself on the wrong side of a Baltimore oriolescomparison.  Resist the Easy Co Mforts ofcomplacency, the specious glitter of materialism, the narcoticparalysis of self-satisfaction.  be worthy of youradvantages.  and read ... read all the time ... read ASA matter of principle, as a matter ofself-respect.  read as A nourishing staple oflife.  Develop and protect a moral sensibility anddemonstrate the character to apply it.  dreambig.  work hard.  Think foryourself.  love everything it, everyone youlove, with all your might .  and do so, please,with a sense of urgency, for every tick of the clock subtracts fromfewer and fewer; And as surely as there are commencemEnts there arecessations, and you'll be on no condition to enjoy the ceremonyattendant to that eventuality no matter how D Elightful Theafternoon.

Before you graduate and prepare for a great exhibition, I suggest that you, whatever you do, should be based on the importance of loving and believing in it. Don't worry about things you don't believe in, like you won't marry a partner you don't love madly, and avoid getting yourself on the wrong side of the Baltimore Orioles game. Don't be complacent by the flashy light of materialism; don't be paralyzed by self-gratification; don't be ashamed of your superiority. and read ... Develop reading habits, reading is related to principles and self-esteem, and reading as the spiritual food of life. Cultivate and maintain a sense of morality, and show moral character, have a great dream, and strive to achieve, independent thinking, wholeheartedly love all the things you love. Be sure to seize the time and act in time, for the moment is passing by a minute.

There is an end to the beginning of everything, and no matter how happy you are this afternoon, the ceremony will eventually end.

The fulfilling life, the Distinctivelife, the relevant life, was an achievement, not something that willfall into your lap  Because you ' re a nice person or mommy ordered itfrom the caterer. You'll note the foundingfathers took pains to secure your inalienable right to life,liberty and the pursuit of Happiness–q Uite an active verb, "pursuit" –which leaves, I should think, little time for lyingaround watching parrots rollerskate onyou Tube.

A fulfilling life, a different life, a meaningful life is an accomplishment; it's not something that just falls from the sky because you're a good person, or something your mom can offer you. You will notice that the founding fathers have labored to ensure your inalienable rights, including life, freedom and the quest for happiness. "Pursuit"-a rather positive verb; I think it's not a good way to watch a parrot on YouTube skate.

The first President Roosevelt, Theold Rough Rider, advocated the strenuous life.  Mr. Thoreau wanted to drive life into a corner, to live deep andsuck out all the marrow. The poet Mary olivertells us to row, row into the swirl and roil. Locally, someone ...  I forget who ... from time-to-time encourages youngscholars to carpe the heck out of the Diem.  Thepoint is the Same:get busy, which has at it.  Don ' twait for inspiration or passion to find. GetUp, get out, explore, find it yourself, and grab hold with Bothhands.

Old Roosevelt-a seasoned knight who advocated a hard life; Mr. Thoreau tried to simplify life and hope to live deep and absorb the essence of life; The poet Mary Oliver tells us to draw forward, into the vortex and turbulence; there is a person in this school-I forget who it is, and I encourage young students to seize the present. These words are all the same: move, put into action, and don't wait for inspiration or enthusiasm to come to you. Stand up, out of the door, explore, rely on their own strength to find, and good grasp.

Now , before your dash off and get Youryolo tattoo, let me point out the illogic of that trendy Littleexpression–because  You can and should live isn't merely once, Butevery day's your life. Rather than you liveonce, it should is Live only Once ... but because Yloo doesn ' thave the same ring, we shrug and D Ecide it doesn ' tmatter.  None of this day-seizing, Though,this ylooing, should be interpreted as license forself-indulgence.  Like accolades ought to being, thefulfilled life is a consequence, a gratifyingbyproduct. It's what happens when you ' re thinkingabout more important things.

Now, before you leave the YOLO tattoo, please allow me to point out the illogical language of this buzzword. Because you can't and should not live only once, but you have to spend every day well. Not you can only live once (YOLO), but life can not repeat (Yloo), but because Yloo pronunciation is not the same, so we shrugged, decided it doesn't matter. Grasping the present-ylooing-should not be misinterpreted as a license to self-indulgence. Like being praised, a fulfilling life is a result; a delightful byproduct. This is what happens when you think about something more important.

Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace thechallenge, enjoy the air and behold the view.  Climb it can see the world, and the world can seeyou.  Go to Paris to is in Paris, the not to cross Itoff your list and congratulate yourself for beingworldly. Exercise free would and creative,independent thought not for the satisfactions they would bring you,but for the good they wi  ll do others, the rest of the 6.8billion–and those who'll follow them. and Thenyou too would discover the great and curious truth of the humanexperience are that selflessness are the best thing yo u can do foryourself.

Mountain climbing is not for the flag, but for the challenge, enjoy the fresh air, and enjoy the view of the present. Mountain climbing is to see the world, not to let the world see you. Go to Paris and experience everything in Paris, not to draw it off your list, and then to celebrate that you've been to a new country. The use of free will and creativity, independent thinking, is not to bring satisfaction to themselves, but to bring about the well-being of the 6.8 billion other people and descendants. Then you will find the great and wonderful truths that humans experience-selflessness is the best thing you can do for yourself.

The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognitionthat you ' re not special.

Because Everyoneis.

To experience the sweetest joy of life, you are not special unless you recognize it. Because everyone is special.

David McCullough, Jr. Speech for Wesley High School graduates (you are not special)